It’s not exactly a secret that Arabs (and Arab Americans) face a lot of stereotyping. This is especially true in films and television (this very problem is discussed in the documentary Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, which is based on a book of the same title). Middle Easterners are frequently portrayed as villains, and in some cases as outright terrorists who are out to destroy some facet of Western culture. And that’s if Arabs are even included in media — in a study completed by the MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Arts Advocacy Coalition, researchers found that 92% of American TV shows and films featured no MENA characters, and of the ones that did, a whopping 78% were portrayed as terrorists, tyrants, or soldiers.
The problem is even worse for MENA women. Middle Eastern women are often portrayed as scantily clad belly dancers or as silent beings shrouded in veils. Belly dancing was actually created by women for women and has a long and fascinating history that is not rooted in titillating men, and in many Middle Eastern countries, women decide how they want to dress and whether or not they wish to wear a Hijab. There have been quite a few recent films that have promoted these horrendous stereotypes, including the recent Aladdin remake and Sex and the City 2.
Thankfully, there have been some realistic Arab characters introduced in Hollywood, and a few shows and films have come out centered entirely around Middle Easterners. Unfortunately, Hollywood has a long way to go — while writing this article, I found it difficult to find accurate and non-stereotypical portrayals of Arabs and Arab-Americans on American television. However, thanks to streaming services, we can now watch TV from around the world, and there are some incredible Middle Eastern shows out there (if you love a good telenovela, then you will adore Middle Eastern dramas).
To help break the stereotypes centered around Arabs, we’re celebrating TV shows and movies (international and domestic) that portray Arabs and Arab Americans as they truly are, not as what stereotypes would leave you to believe. Read on for our list of favorites.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Whispers
The first Saudi Arabian Netflix Original, Whispers proves that Saudi shows can be just as dramatic and scandalous as others. Whispers follows a family, who after their father’s death, begin to unravel multiple family secrets. Each episode focuses on a different family member and how they have dealt with their father’s death. Each of the characters (most of whom are women) are flawed and fully realized human beings, thus helping to break down the stereotypes surrounding Saudi women.
Watch on Netflix.
The Bold Type
The Bold Type is another show that doesn’t focus solely on Middle Eastern characters, but it does include one badass heroine. Adena El-Amin (Nikohl Boosheri) is an out and proud Muslim Lesbian photographer who is initially hired to work for the show’s magazine (Scarlet). She decides not to work for the magazine as she deems it “unfeminist,” but is eventually convinced to do some photography for them. Adena is far from a stereotype and helps to make more Muslim Queer folks visible. Again, Adena is not a perfect representation (the way she wears her Hijab is rather unusual) but she is a welcome change.
Watch on Hulu.
Ramy
Based on comedian Ramy Youseff’s life, Ramy follows the star as he comes to terms with his faith and Egyptian heritage while living in New Jersey. Ramy is one of the only shows on American television to feature a predominantly Egyptian and Arabic cast and to feature Arabic characters who are not terrorists. While Ramy is not perfect, it does have some hilarious moments and is a solid introduction to Egyptian culture.
Watch on Hulu.
Persepolis
Based on the moving graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis is based on Satrapi’s life growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Designed to look like the graphic novel, Persepolis humanizes those who underwent the Iranian-Iraqi war. Satrapi is a captivating heroine who fights against the tyrannical regime she is in; she secretly buys heavy metal albums on the black market and wears denim jackets. The film serves as a reminder that one should always stay true to who they are and is a necessary history lesson regarding Iran.
Watch on Apple TV.
Breaking Fast
This endearing indie rom-com is a classic twist on a rom-com staple: falling in love around the holidays. The twist is that the holiday is Ramadan, and the two leads are two gay men. The film follows Mo (Haaz Sleiman), a devout Muslim who is going through a bit of hearbreak. He falls in love with a white actor named Kal (Michael Cassidy) who decides to break fast with him during the Holy month of Ramadan. It’s a sweet love story that also focuses on the struggles gay men can face as Muslims.
Watch on Hulu.
Caramel AKA Sukkar Banat
Think of this as the Lebanese version of Sex and The City. Caramel follows five women who are interconnected through a salon in Beirut. Each woman is dealing with her own specific problem, and the film follows each woman’s story and their enduring friendships. Caramel focuses on everyday life for women in Beirut, which breaks many of the myths about Middle Eastern women.
Watch on Apple TV.
Community
Community isn’t centered around Arabs (though it does feature a fairly diverse cast) but one character stands out: Abed Nadir. Half Palestinian and half Polish, Abed doesn’t have the best relationship with his father, which is what led him to absorb American pop culture. Abed’s character isn’t focused around the fact that he is half Palestinian and a Muslim; it’s quite the contrary — he just happens to be Muslim and Middle Eastern. He’s an everyday college student who’s a bit eccentric, but he’s also a caring friend and the heart of the show. Granted, there are problems with Abed — his father and his Arabic are very questionable and the actor is not Palestinian; he’s Indian. Still, Abed is a refreshing character unlike any other.
Watch on Hulu.
Secret of the Nile
The first Egyptian show on Netflix, Secret of the Nile is a remake of an epic Spanish series called Gran Hotel. The series was a part of “Ramadan Television,” in which the series ran as a thirty-episode evening TV special (when Secret of the Nile was aired during Ramadan in 2016, it did extremely well). While the series won’t offer a modern look at Arabs, it is a fun insight into Egyptian television. If you live for telenovelas, then you will live for Secret of the Nile because Egyptians know how to do DRAMA. The series takes place during the 1950s where a man infiltrates a high-end hotel in Aswan to learn about his missing sister. Once there, he gets tangled in the complexities of the hotel.
Watch on Netflix.
Koran by Heart
Most Americans have heard of spelling bees, but few are aware of the annual international Holy Koran competition, an intense two-week competition in which children as young as seven recite, by memory, preselected passages of the Koran. Held in Cairo, the event sees children are judged on the accuracy of their chant and the quality of their chant. It’s a major televised event in Egypt, and the documentary reflects just how many Muslims there are in the world, and what an event means for them. Plus the three main kids who are featured are adorable. You can stream Koran by Heart on HBO Max.
Watch on HBO Max.
Barakah Meets Barakah
The first Saudi film to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, Barakah Meets Barakah is a humorous and light-hearted rom-com that also takes some sharp jabs at the stifling political culture in Saudi Arabia. The film follows a mild-mannered civil servant who falls in love with a girl from a wealthy family, which is frowned upon in Saudi culture. The two struggle to meet face-to-face in a country with such strict rules. Not many films come out of Saudi Arabia, so this rom-com offers insight into a culture that still remains a mystery to many.
Watch on Netflix.
AlRawabi School For Girls
The second Middle Eastern Netflix series, AlRawabi School for Girls, is a Jordanian mini-series that has cooked up a bit of controversy. Known as the “Jordanian Mean Girls,” the series follows a group of outcasts who decide to take revenge against their school’s clique of nasty girls. In the midst of their scheming, the girls learn that there is a lot more to people than meets the eye, and that some of their bullies are dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, ranging from sexual harassment to mental health issues. The series has been met with some criticism in Jordan as it is not a very realistic portrayal of life there (in all fairness, Gossip Girl isn’t exactly how most high school students in America behave) but it does shed light on an overlooked demographic: young Arab women.
Watch on Netflix.
American Eid
American Eid focuses on a holiday that is near and dear to Muslims: Eid. Essentially, Eid is a holiday that celebrates the end of Ramadan, where families get together, exchange gifts, and sometimes go on small vacations. Eid is not celebrated in America, much to the chagrin of Pakistani immigrant Ameena, who decides to start a petition at her school to make Eid a public school holiday. While American Eid is indeed a heartwarming Disney film, it also focuses on the struggles Muslims face (and honestly most non-Christians) face in a country that doesn’t acknowledge their major holidays.
Watch on Disney Plus.
Leave a Comment