A Review of
Gender and Sexual Identity: Transcending Feminist and Queer
Theory
by Julie L. Nagoshi, Craig T. Nagoshi, and Stephan/ie Brzuzy
(Gabrielle Filip-Crawford, Allison Varley, and Robert Hess III, Cont.)
New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media, 2014. 239 pp.
ISBN 978-1-4614-8965-8. $179.00
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037639

This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Children's Book and Media Review by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact

Background: Over three million Arab Muslims live in the United States, and more than half are women (Nasser-McMillan, 2003). Little is known about these women in the growing and diverse Arab American Muslim population, and there is limited information available regarding their experiences of living in the U.S. Their experiences influence multiple aspects of their lives, including functioning in mainstream culture, use of resources or agencies, and the decisions they make that shape their acculturation outcome. Purpose: To describe the experiences of Arab Muslim immigrant women living in the U.S. Methods: This qualitative study examined the shared experiences of immigrant Arab Muslim women in the U.S. In-depth, semi-structured interviews lasting 1-2 hours with Arab Muslim immigrant women were conducted. Data analysis was iterative, beginning with data collection and continuing through the entire analysis period. Data rigor was established through a clear audit trail and debriefing sessions with other qualitative researchers. Findings: Fifteen Arab Muslim women were interviewed. Themes were identified through qualitative thematic data analysis and categorized into the following main areas: (1) Coping and embracing the good, (2) Hybrid positionality, (3) Safety through invisibility, (4) Spiritual growth and family bonding, and (5) Fear of the unknown future. The main themes were viewed through the lens of John Berry's acculturation model and social cognitive theory. Conclusion: Qualitative descriptions of Arab Muslim immigrant women living in the United States reflect influences that affect functioning in the mainstream culture, use of resources or agencies, and decisions they make that shape their acculturation outcomes. If these influences are not explored and recognized, they may interfere with adjustment to living in the U.S. viii

I am at my home in El Paso, Texas while under a "shelter-in-place" order, writing this piece of deep reflection about feelings and emotions during this pandemic. My main purpose here is to tell my story as an immigrant living on the border during these dizzying times with the intention of focusing on what has been working for me hoping that sharing my experience of embracing and coping will light a little candle in the midst of this darkness and uncertainty about life. We cannot ignore the fact that COVID-19 is one of the deadly respiratory viral diseases but is essential to reflect on all the changes that this virus has brought to our lives. An expression that has been circulating on social media caught my attention. "We're not going back to normal as normal was not working." In this paper, this expression will serve as the frame around my thoughts, perspectives and reflections on being quarantined in El Paso, a border city also known as the borderlands. This border region is centered on two large cities:

The life complexities of women experiencing homelessness warrants further exploration as there is insufficient information on their lifes interpersonal and structural challenges. The aim of this study is multifold: to explore the experiences of unhoused women in El Paso, Texas, a city that borders with Ciudad Juarez Mexico, to identify barriers to health and social services, to promote agency, and improve access to care. Recruitment of participants was done through partner agencies in selecting a sample of 15 Hispanic and 15 Non-Hispanic women who were experiencing homelessness and residing in local shelters in the spring of 2019. The Beck Depression Inventory II, General Self-Efficacy (GSE), and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scales were administered to enhance understanding and knowledge on the characteristics of women with a lived experience of homelessness to learn about their interpersonal and adverse experiences and future outlook. Feminist perspective was employed as part of the theoretical framework to further explore the interpersonal and structural realities of women experiencing homelessness. Three major themes emerged: relational adversity and intimate partner violence; lack of social support; and challenges related to transitioning out of homelessness. Implications highlighted in the findings will inform health and human service providers, and decision makers about the needs of women and the importance of personcentered carer for this population. It is critical that social workers, human service practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and the general public pause, listen and understand the realities that women experiencing homelessness face and their resiliency to ensure quality services to support them transition and end homelessness.

In 2012, I embarked on a PhD study to examine what happens to Arab Muslim women when they arrive in the United States. Little is known about these women in the growing and diverse Arab Muslim population, and there is limited information available regarding their experiences of living in the United States. Previous studies had relied largely on quantitative methods to examine the health risks and prevalence of illnesses within the Arab/Muslim American population; only a few qualitative studies shed light on the health needs of this population. This case study provides an account of one practical aspect of a 2-year-long PhD project, taking the reader to the heart of some specific situational and methodological problems that arose in the course of the research. Arab Muslim immigrant women in the United States represent a population that is very difficult to access, and this poses a significant challenge for researchers. My insider status as a researcher allowed for the identification and use of strategies that were successful in accessing this hidden population. Strategies related to (a) accessibility and participation, (b) data collection, and (c) the relationship between the researcher and the participants are discussed. My study looked at the shared experiences of Arab Muslim immigrant women living in the United States. This qualitative descriptive research was conducted by means of in-depth, semi-structured interviews lasting 1-2 hours. Qualitative descriptions of Arab Muslim immigrant women living in the United States reflect influences that affect functioning in the mainstream culture, the use of resources or agencies, and the decisions they make that shape their acculturation outcomes. If these influences are not explored and recognized, they may interfere with these women's adjustment to living in the United States. Learning Outcomes By the end of the case, students should Have a better understanding of the methodological challenges involved in accessing a hidden population Be familiar with some of the strategies utilized to access hidden populations successfully Be able to examine the role of the semi-structured interview in eliciting one's own experiences Be able to assess the pros and cons of semi-structured interviewing methods as a means of representing the voice of a hidden population in research Background and Context: Research on Arab Muslims in the United States As US Census figures show, the United States has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world, and minority groups comprise an increasing portion of its population. Each year, thousands of individuals migrate from a source or home country to a host country for a variety of reasons, such as political instability, high unemployment rates, family reunification, or the opportunity to study abroad at an institution of higher education. Arabs immigrate to the United States for the same reasons. This population is not a new minority in this country. Arab immigration to the United States began almost a century ago. There were several waves of Arab immigration to the United States (Kayyali, 2006).

I am at my home in El Paso, Texas while under a "shelter-in-place" order, writing this piece of deep reflection about feelings and emotions during this pandemic. My main purpose here is to tell my story as an immigrant living on the border during these dizzying times with the intention of focusing on what has been working for me hoping that sharing my experience of embracing and coping will light a little candle in the midst of this darkness and uncertainty about life. We cannot ignore the fact that COVID-19 is one of the deadly respiratory viral diseases but is essential to reflect on all the changes that this virus has brought to our lives. An expression that has been circulating on social media caught my attention. "We're not going back to normal as normal was not working." In this paper, this expression will serve as the frame around my thoughts, perspectives and reflections on being quarantined in El Paso, a border city also known as the borderlands. This border region is centered on two large cities: Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico and El Paso, Texas, U.S. It is important to remember that there are different types of borders and boundaries: some are visible and natural while others are invisible and created. In both cases, across all borders and boundaries, there are projections of us and others, based on racial, economic, linguistic, and cultural differences. In this piece, I will reflect on my own feelings and emotions and my ways of coping, caring, and healing through this pandemic and the changes that have invaded my life and struck me like lightning. Change has always overwhelmed me, and I always tried to resist it, but I have become aware of how sometimes change is needed to clear the way for the "new" to take place.