2025 Theses Doctoral

Learning New York: Ethnography of Arab Immigrant Women’s Paths to Education, Employment and Integration in South Brooklyn

Alkhashman, Afaf

This dissertation is an ethnographic study that explores the factors influencing the paths of adult Arab immigrant women who have recently settled in New York, focusing on their journeys in navigating available resources to gain access to education, employment, and access to government assistance in South Brooklyn.

Grounded in theories of transnationalism, the urban commons and intersectionality, the study examines both the challenges and opportunities these women encounter in improving their lives. It highlights the networks they establish in their new environment, their pursuit of ESL and citizenship education, their employment opportunities and the forces shaping their choices, and their access to public services and welfare.