Its very common for the Western journalists to talk about “Westernized” Lebanese. It seems, however, that with this term they are identifying only one part of what is the West, those things that are typically middle class. In reality they are only identifying those middle class characteristics found across the globe in this globalized world. They identify those as “Western” but in fact they are not necessarily so.
What these journalists end up describing as Westernization are in fact the adoption of typically middle class characteristics. Meanwhile, those traits typical of other classes in the West are no longer associated as “Western” and are somehow brushed under the table as if the West is all middle class.
This is particularly true in Lebanon and ends up giving some people writing about Lebanon from outside the impression that Lebanon is divided between those who are thoroughly Lebanese and those who are not, the latter being the middle class and those above them. The reality is far more complex.
The problem also has negative connotations in Lebanese society, where people tend to think the West is made up of well-educate middle class folk. It tends to create an illusion among Lebanese of what West society is really like.
When I think of the word “westernized” as being used in the Arab context, I think of clothing and life style.
I wonder if a middle class “muhajjaba” or a middle class “jilbab wearing” man with conservative lives will make the cut.
On the other hand, a working class woman who likes to go scantly clad to the nightclub to have drinks with her girlfriends would definitely make the cut.
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