ABSTRACT
The expression "blood is thicker than water" expresses the fierce loyalty that resides within a family. Within the South Asian and Arab culture, family honor serves an important function in protecting the social status and standing of families in their communities. There was a sense of independence that came from being first generation Muslim-Americans, but the overall priority centered around valuing the family, and this foundation assisted in developing how these women's worldviews were intermingled with being honorable. In cultures where honor underlies so many aspects of society—from how people are viewed, to how they represent their families, and yes, even committing murder to preserve or restore honor—honor may truly be even thicker than blood. Family values repeatedly came up during the interviews, and seemed to be the basis for how these women identified honor, in accordance with their religious beliefs.
