Executive summary
Like in any part of the world, Arab youths are currently experiencing dramatic cultural changes caused by current globalization, social, political and economic transformation, education as well as technology. Culture is described as the natural actions of society. Essentially, culture is the daily activities, actions, practices, or the manner in which society is arranged and functions.
Moreover, culture is a product of both individual hard work and collective behaviors that form the societal values, customs, and traditions. In most societies, cultural norms are taught and ingrained into the younger generations by the older age groups. As such, Arab older cohorts have a greater role in ensuring that Arab culture is sustained, promoted, and practiced by the upcoming generations. However, this can only be achieved by acknowledging the kind of cultural practices and norms that are supposed to be respected.
Therefore, the paper tends to examine actions and practices that Arab youths should currently undertake to promote cultural or value awareness not only in the Arab world but also globally. Essentially, the paper examines values that Arab youths are supposed to respect and analyses the cultural or value awareness as well as self-esteem both at the local and international scale. Moreover, the paper looks into the contributions of contemporary and traditional values to current cultural awareness among the Arab youths.
Acknowledgment
Foremost, special thanks go to the immediate supervisor or instructors for the valuable and constructive suggestions from the planning to the undertaking of this study. In particular, the willingness to offer time so generously has been highly appreciated.
I would also like to express my deep gratitude to my research supervisors for their patient guidance, enthusiastic encouragement, and useful critiques of this report. In addition, I would also like to thank the department for continuous advice and assistance in keeping my progress on schedule. Grateful thanks are also extended to the fellow Muslim students for their greater assistance and contribution in this paper.
I would also like to extend my thanks to the department library assistances for their help in my search for the secondary resources that were helpful in completing the report. Finally, I wish to thank my parents for their support and encouragement throughout the production and writing of this report.
Introduction
Understanding cultural values in the current environment is one of the major challenges Arab youths faced. The reason is that the Arab region is currently experiencing critical changes that affect both individuals and societies.
Essentially, Arab youths are experiencing an instantaneous discrepancy in cultural issues concerned with their future development and related to self-determination, information, and women empowerment. In other words, cultural values that Arab youth should uphold, respect, and promote are related to gender, self-determination as well as knowledge.
As indicated, the current social, political, and economic environments present a challenging situation for upholding and promotion of cultural and value awareness among the Arab young men and women.
In fact, the course and consequences of political, social and economic transformations currently undulating across the Arab world championed by the Arab youths present an opportunity to understand the cultural values that need to be upheld in order to conform to the new changes. Essentially, Arab youths need to reconfigure and understand some of the basic institutions of their society, particularly in the areas of culture, arts, and social development.
However, currently, Arab youths are faced with challenges brought about by globalization, economic, political, and social transformations (Ayanian and Mallat 92). In essence, globalization and its related facets have greatly influenced the behavior of Arab youths not only in the Arab region but also around the globe. Consequently, Arab youths are growing up in an atmosphere in which values are contrary to the traditional norms and practices. In principle, the current environments exert increased pressure on the daily practices of Arab youths.
Youths throughout the Arab world feel cultural changes as a threat to the social norms and fabrics that held society. Moreover, cultural changes and transformations in the belief systems threaten the daily activities and practices preserved in conventional Arab heritage.
Therefore, it is imperative for Arab youths to establish a set of values that take into consideration their current aspirations, changes as well as norms that promote societal upbringing. In fact, cultural changes are observed in music, fashion, and rebellion against the traditional belief system.
While considering values that should currently be promoted, issues such as youth unemployment, marginalization, gender, and the need to meet basic needs should be taken into consideration (Khalifa 74). The reason is that the issues form the core aspirations of the current Arab youths. In addition, Arab societies should indicate some readiness to confront rapid transformations brought about by new media tools that have a direct impact on the youths.
However, Arab youths should take advantage of the current media to promote values and cultural norms that result in positive changes in society. In addition, Arab youths should take advantage of the current environment to express their cultural norms and values amid increasing pressures.
Moreover, Arab youths should take cognizance of the current environment to explore and understand other cultures as well as experiences. Further, Arab youths should utilize the current systems to enhance their capabilities and eliminate values that promote illiteracy (Khalifa 74).
Cultural values that modern Arab youths should respect
The identifying cultural value that should be upheld and promoted by Arab youths is challenging due to complexities involved in youth’s identities. The complexities arise from young people’s adherence to diverse and sometimes contradictory characteristics in areas including faith, way of life, beliefs, and social customs (Khalifa 74). In addition, the Arab youth’s identity has been complicated by diversity in nationality, gender, and sexuality.
Moreover, the powerful traditional values that have been the social fabric and defined Middle Eastern society including Islamic faith, closure family ties and collective nature of tribe and ethnicity have been transformed into modern belief systems where individualistic norms, values as well as social attributes have replaced the indigenous social systems (Ayanian and Mallat 94).
Further, the identities and values of young people in the Arab world are constantly undergoing transformations as the combination of local belief systems and foreign characteristics are continuously being reconfigured (Ayanian and Mallat 94).
However, new changes brought about by globalization, education, and social media have a greater impact on the belief system of Arab youths. In fact, changes including global social, political and economic movements have drastically altered the cultural environment in which issues such as sexual freedom as well as globalized commercial practices have constantly influenced the world of the Arab youths (Khalifa 74).
As a result, the rates of change in cultural values of young Arabs are likely to speed up and intensify and will occur differently depending on the region, social, economic, and political systems.
However, values based on religion and family systems characterize the common identities of young Arabs around the globe (Ayanian and Mallat 94). In fact, values based on religion and family ties are common elements that influence the vision and priorities of the Arab youths. Religion plays a critical role in the lives of Arab youths, not only within the Arab world but also globally. Studies indicate that Arab youths tend to have two attitudes concerning their individualities and place in society (Khalifa 76).
On the one hand, family and religion form the powerful basis for their identities and capabilities of navigating through life. Conversely, Arab youths normally express their concerns regarding lack of opportunities to articulate their feelings, be considered by society, and attain their full potential.
The sentiments are greatly expressed by the young Arab women that in most cases, do not have equal opportunity to compete fairly with their male counterparts. The concerns of the young Arab women explain why values that take into consideration gender issues become significant in the current definition of the Arab youth cultural systems (Ayanian and Mallat 94).
Since religion plays a critical role in the individual identity and definition of future life, it is critical to upholding values that promote a common religious belief system (Khalifa 77). In fact, a common belief system and understanding of the Muslim faith is critical in identifying Arab youths as a Muslim society rather than with individual sectarian, national, and family ties. As such, various understandings and implications of the Muslim faith that create division should not be upheld.
Most importantly, even though the Islamic faith seems to unify the Muslim community, various understandings according to sects have created divisions, actions, and practices that have resulted into the alienation of Arabs by the rest of the world societies (Khalifa 77).
Therefore, young Arabs are challenged to embrace the Islamic values that tend to create unity, common understanding, and promote individual and societal wellbeing and prosperity. Essentially, young Arabs should embrace religious values that promote a sense of optimism, equality handwork, and attainment of life goals (Ayanian and Mallat 94).
Currently, young Arabs should not adopt religious values that promote hedonism and stimulation, rather be focused on individual achievements, self-direction, and independence in terms of practices and ideas (Ayanian and Mallat 92).
In fact, individual values of achievement, self-direction, and independence are stimulated by global Muslim youth culture and enriched by intensive communication networks and social media. As such, adoption of individual values based on religious belief systems presents a move away from devout parochial practices that entrap and confine the young Arabs in their own world.
Young Arabs around the globe should consider values that express both the combination of satisfaction and pride and shun values that increase discrimination and alienation. Moreover, values that promote the rights and equal perceptions of women should be promoted by the current Arab youths. Like any other young woman around the globe, the perceptions of female gender and their rights by the society are critical elements of both the value system and identity of young Arab woman (Khalifa 81).
In fact, values that promote equality, fairness and rights based on both the family and religious practices have a greater impact on young Arab women in terms of development in education, careers and promote life choices as well as self-fulfillment. The current global system requires that the youths, whether men or women should have equal opportunities irrespective of religious, racial, social, political, or economic affiliation (Ayanian and Mallat 94). As such, young Arabs should embrace values that promote equal opportunities.
Family plays a critical role in the life of Arab youths. Family values shape the characteristics and the general belief system of individual young Arabs (Khalifa 84). In fact, most of the Arab youths believe in the family values as the most critical determinant in attaining life goals and aspirations. In most cases, young Arabs around the globe believe that having or starting a family is critical in life. As such, values surrounding the family belief system are critical and should be adopted and promoted.
Personal experience in Algerian sub-urban youths clearly illustrates the need for Arab youths to uphold values critical in promoting self-actualization and life fulfillment. In this semi-urban district of Algeria, youths identify themselves as Muslims and spend most of their time outside homes due to economic marginalization and frustrations. In fact, most young people are dissatisfied with living conditions and spend very little time with their families.
Moreover, even though the youths are Muslims, they spend a lot of their time practicing religious jihadist that has resulted in their alienation and discrimination by the rest of the Algerian society. Most of the youths resort to the jihadist activities to gain economic and social fulfillment as well as religious status in society.
Lack of positive relations with family members, wrong religious practices, and belief systems have led the youths to engage in delinquent acts and behaviors. The marginalization in Algerian youths and their actions represent the manner in which Arab youths react to their inability to adopt good values as well as to adapt to conditions defined by the current global Arab society.
Cultural-awareness, value-awareness, and self-esteem at local and international levels
Cultural or value awareness is the process through which the belief system of a society is learned and practiced. Arab youths are fully aware of their values despite cultural conflicts due to globalization and other social factors.
Studies indicate that even though the awareness of the value is high among the Arab communities around the globe, the majority of the world society do not understand the nature of the Arab culture resulting in negative perception. Moreover, the association of Arab youths with modern terrorism has contributed to the unpopularity of the Arab culture among other societies (Khalifa 84).
However, the relationship between cultural or value awareness and self-esteem is positive. Studies indicate personal pride resides in an individual identity, which is defined by the cultural belief system. Most of the Arab youths are proud to be identified with Islamic faith and practices of Islam. In the Arab world, cultural awareness is highest across all the subgroups of youths (Khalifa 84).
The reason is that the cultural practices that are based on the Muslim faith, which is inculcated in an individual from childhood. Most of the youths are proud to be a Muslim and to be fully aware of their beliefs and practices. Cultural awareness is observed across the Muslim or Arab society around the globe.
However, in terms of self-esteem, variations exist, particularly across gender and regions. Despite the pride of being a Muslim, cultural values that do not promote equal opportunities for women to reduce their self-esteem. In most quarters, Arab cultures are considered unbalanced towards women reducing their pride and self-esteem (Ayanian and Mallat 101).
While considering the cultural awareness, it is critical to reflect on some of the misconceptions that tend to create a negative attitude towards Arab cultural beliefs and the cause of reduced self-esteem among the Arab youths outside the Arab world.
For instance, there is a misconception that all Arabs are Muslims. In fact, Arab youths are a religiously diverse group of people with significant numbers believing in varied faiths. Such misconceptions need to be understood in order to make conclusions of increased cultural or value awareness among Arab youth.
Moreover, it is critical to understand the fact that cultural awareness varies depending on regions as well as other demographic factors. For instance, cultural or value awareness is higher in the Middle East or within the Arab world in relation to Arab youths found in foreign countries.
As expected, Arabs in foreign countries are faced with direct cultural conflict and socio-economic changes that make it difficult to sustain Arab cultural values (Ayanian and Mallat 101). Similarly, in relation to self-esteem, the variation occurs along with gender and other demographic characteristics, including the level of education, income, and exposure to other cultures and practices.
The contribution of traditional and contemporary values on cultural-awareness
Both traditional and current cultural systems have contributed hugely to the development of value awareness among Arab youth. In fact, the current values found to be relevant with Arab youths are based on the traditional Arab culture and practices (Khalifa 84). For instance, family as a social unit follows the traditional patriarchal system found in conventional practices. In addition, the family is the center of nobility, devotion as well as status and contributes hugely to individual success.
The belief in the family as currently held is similar to the traditional practices as founded on the Islamic faith and Shariah laws. Generally, the current values are based on the traditional Arab customary laws and practices, which are known to most of the Arab youths. Thus, the knowledge of Arab traditions and customs contributes hugely to modern value awareness among the youth.
On the other hand, the modern value system also contributes hugely to increased cultural awareness. For instance, values consistent with etiquette and hygiene are based on modern cultural norms and practices. The full knowledge of Arab etiquette and hygiene contributes hugely to cultural awareness among the youth (Ayanian and Mallat 110).
Besides, modern social systems, including education and media, promote values and norms that are acceptable to the modern Arab youth and society. Most importantly, both traditional and modern Arab language is critical in promoting value or cultural awareness. Generally, both traditional and contemporary values systems contribute hugely to the promotion of cultural awareness.
Conclusion
The current social, political, and economic environments present a challenging situation for upholding and promotion of cultural and value awareness among the Arab young men and women. In fact, the course and consequences of the political, social and economic revolution currently undulating across the Arab world championed by the Arab youths present an opportunity to understand the cultural values that need to be upheld in order to conform to the new changes.
Essentially, Arab youths need to reconstruct and recognize some of the fundamental institutions of their society, particularly in the areas of culture, arts, and social development.
Therefore, it is imperative for Arab youth to establish a set of values that take into consideration their current aspirations, challenges as well as shared norms that promote societal upbringing. While considering values that should currently be promoted, issues such as youth unemployment, marginalization, gender, and the need to meet basic needs should be taken into consideration.
The reason is that the issues form the core aspirations of the current Arab youths. However, values based on religion and family systems characterize the common identities of young Arabs around the globe. The reason is that values based on religion and family ties are common elements that influence the vision and priorities of the Arab youths.
In addition, the Arab societies have to be ready to confront rapid transformations brought about by new media tools that have a direct impact on the youths. However, Arab youths should take advantage of the current social media to promote values and cultural norms that result in positive change in society.
In addition, Arab youth should take advantage of the current environment to express their cultural norms and values amid increasing pressures. Moreover, Arab youths should take advantage of the current environment to explore and understand other cultures as well as experiences. Further, Arab youths should utilize the systems to enhance their capabilities and eliminate values that promote illiteracy.
Works Cited
Ayanian, Arin, and Sarah Mallat. The Virtual Voice: Arab Youth Activism through Social Media. Beirut: Background Paper Series, 2010. Print.
Khalifa, Atef. Youth Bulge and the Demographic Window of Opportunityin the Arab World. Beirut: ESCWA, 2009. Print.