Detroit Unleaded

 

This week’s reading and film was yet another interesting aspect of Arab and Muslim American experiences to explore. 

 

Both the reading and the film explore themes of cultural intersectionality and the experiences of Arab Muslim Americans as they navigate life within American culture while holding onto ingrained Arab values. This is particularly evident in the relationship between Najlah and Sami. Najlah is more reserved in her approach to their relationship, whereas Sami is more open. In one scene, Sami asks Najlah, If she loves him, then why won’t she kiss him? We see similar themes in the reading, where the author describes the struggles of young Muslim Arab Americans, who, in the aftermath of 9/11, face ongoing oppression while also dealing with their parents’ expectations to build better lives, not just for themselves but also for their families and society at large.

 

I liked how the film authentically portrayed Faadi’s character. It highlights a sad reality in male-dominated conservative societies, where men have the freedom to do whatever they want, but women often lack agency in making personal decisions. What I find most frustrating is that men are allowed to flirt with women without facing criticism, whereas if women do the same, it is deemed unacceptable. This is not to say that such behavior is good in either case, but the lack of accountability for men reinforces harmful gender norms. This imbalance negatively impacts both society and families. In the film, Faadi flirts with girls over the phone, and his friends discuss the absence of women in their group, but Najlah is not allowed to date. 

 

Lastly, it was interesting how Najlah stood up for herself and ran away, showing that women can make their own decisions and take control of their lives. However, I believe the author could have framed this part of the story differently. Perhaps Najlah running away could have been portrayed in a way that more strongly emphasized women’s agency and independence, and one that would find a common ground between the two cultures.