Do you think "cultural appropriation" is a stupid concept?

Question

I just think it's so petty when you click on a pic of a white girl with braids or a non-native American dressed in tribal clothes, or a white girl with a bindi and everyone on the comments is throwing out abuse at her/him.

I personally think cultures should be shared and everyone should get to experience and connect with other cultures and I believe it would help to fight racism if everyone learned about each others cultures and shared them.

And also culture has nothing to do with race it's to do with upbringing and traditions... like a white girl could be adopted into an African family where they all braided hair etc so that would be part of HER cultures as it's what she's always known. Get me?

for example I'm mixed race (black n white) and I only know white folks never met an African person yet I can "get away" with wearing braids.. but it's actually not my culture I just think it looks good.

there's so so so many different cultures and traditions that link to ancestors, religion, beliefs etc and even if you weren't brought up that way I feel you can still explore it and try new things out like... ur only here once on this earth and bindis are so interesting and I love the reasoning behind them which I researched into and if I want to wear a bindi... guess wat? I'm gunna wear a bindi because I love the concept. In fact Asian cultures is one of my favourites so if I want to involve myself in it I will !!

And if your a white gal reading this and u think corn rows are cute as hell go get them !!! Who can stop you? It's hair.
As long as u respect and learn about cultures different from your own what's the big dealio? And those who are born into cultures and people tell you that your ghetto for braids or make fun of your bindi tell them to suck your ass !! Those are the boring racist people with small minds who need to be taught about culture :)

Rant over, opinions?

bellaf666 · Accepted Answer

You have to keep in mind that cultural appropriation is a real, serious concept discussed in academic spaces that social justice warriors on the internet use as a way of validating their hatred towards other people. A white girl using dreads is, as you mentioned, harmless, and sharing cultures as you said is great, but (real) cultural appropriation is not about any of those points. Cultural appropriation is when society lets one culture, often from a minority group, be marginalized and associated with negative concepts until a person from the group in advantage takes elements from this culture, gives them an entirely different meaning (and therefore separates them from their original function) and suddenly that culture is appreciated, modern and beautiful, and the person from the priviledged group gets recognition from something that technically wasn't theirs. A very good example happened in my country a while ago, we have a distinct street art movement that is all about protest and contra-culture. This street art is mostly done by poor people from the hood and are seen by the vast majority of upper/middle class folks as ugly and worthless. Then, one rich design student who graduated in Holland took elements of that street art and painted luxury dishes with it, and suddenly everyone thought it was a great revolutionary idea, when in fact the poor people had been doing that for decades and getting called thugs. And it's not the designers fault -- I'm sure she never meant to disrespect anyone -- this is on an entire system that degrades culture unless it comes from the priviledged.

COCOCHANEL · Accepted Answer

when i complained about how some major lolita fashion designers try to say that they invented it and that it is a japanese fashion, my British co-worker said ”you can't copyright culture”

i just feel like those designers should say the truth, that they were/are inspired by and are basically copying european designs.

one might think that it's obvious to everyone that frilly petticoats and pinafores were NOT invented in japan but there are a LOT of young japanese who are actually not aware that lolita and other fashions are just copying victorian era clothing. they don't even know what that is. all they know is manga and anime.

abigay_ · Accepted Answer

Sometimes, I think cultural appropriation claims can be a little extra. Like, when a white girl wears corn rows or dreads for example, I feel like she's embracing black culture and even admiring it. I don't think people should fling insults at her. But, if the cultural item/aspect you've adopted has religious significance, I feel like you should tread more carefully (I'm not even talking about the bindi in particular, I don't know too much about it). I think people within that religion reserve the right to tell you if it's inappropriate for you to wear it. That's just my two cents

MlleCake · Accepted Answer

I feel somewhat mixed about this. Clothing, foods, music, religions - are meant to be shared. Is the person being sincere in their appreciation? Or just wearing another culture's sacred attire like a costume or to look cool? Does the person really respect, honor and work for the liberation of the minority they are emulating?

madhatters4 · Accepted Answer

it's fine as long as there is no abuse of the appropriation.

for example iggy azaelia was critiqued heavily for appropriating aspects of black culture while being very critical of the same things she was appropriating.

it's not a stupid concept. it's a real thing. cultural appropriation isn't inherently bad. every single culture on earth does it. it's only wrong in certain cases

AleDeEurope · Accepted Answer

It's dumb. The only way cultural appropriation could be a thing is if someone takes something from another culture and claim it's theirs. But that's not usually what happens.

I find it funny when minorities cry cultural appropriation... while speaking English, using the Internet, a phone, watching TV, using a computer... funny isn't it?

JimRSmith · Answer

Cultural appropriation is yet another ridiculous SJW bandwagon.

Maypai · Answer

I agree with you on the whole embracing and understanding other cultures but the reason why a lot of ethnic people call it appropriation rather than appreciation is due to the fact that for YEARS Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans and the likes have been forced to erase their culture, deny their culture, have hatred towards their culture. They were ridiculed for it. Most people don't even give credit to the original culture yet the moment a white person takes something from that culture, it's beautiful and extrinsic therefore acceptable.

I have no problem what-so-ever with anyone taking from any culture, I think it's beautiful. Me personally I love taking from other cultures. I love clothes from other cultures, some makeup products and styles, hair styles but when it comes to giving credit. Give credit.

Annewill82 · Answer

I understand where you're coming from but no. Not trying to be rude but white people really don't have a "culture" to imitate therefore one wouldn't know what it feels like to see someone else who shouldn't be wearing/ saying/ using it. I recently saw where Gigi did a photo shoot with an Afro and black twitter was upset about it. Why? Because a lot of whites love to imitate us but don't love us nor give us credit. I can't speak for native Americans and all that but I watched a video once where they were saying they hate when people dress up in these portrayed outfits for Halloween and stuff because it's disrespectful. You can research and be genuinely interested in others traditions, beliefs, etc but it's a certain way to go about it. What would someone think of a none Jew celebrating Hanukkah. A none Muslim women wearing their garments. It's disrespectful to them. Point blank

0112358 · Answer

I think some care needs to be taken around religious symbols or symbols of earned respect, but not just fashions.

Like if someone wanted to dress up as a u. s. marine complete with knock off purple hearts, that's not really appropriate. If someone wants to dress as a catholic priest because it's a cool look, that's not really appropriate for day to day wear. Same idea with other cultures. But general fashion and hair looks, go for it.

When people say things like 'how come we can't wear braids or afros but when some skinny white girl does its cool' I agree with them, but the answer isn't to ban whoever jenner from doing it, its that we should all celebrate the originals more.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think borrowing something or sharing something from another culture is bad and I'd say it's unavoidable in our globalized world but what does make me uncomfortable is the fact that a lot of white people don't consider the background of a culture and treat it like an accessory. To stick with your Native American example: Native Americans were slaughtered, systematically oppressed and weren't allowed to practice their culture. And nowadays a white girl can take whatever she wants from that culture and even gets praise for it. That's kind of unfair in my opinion.
TL;DR: you should be aware and respectful towards the origin and history of the cultures you're borrowing from.

Anonymous · Answer

The people that have the issues are often the same people who have nothing better to do than criticise every possible person and situation. It's tiresome to me, playing the "it's racist" card because someone is trying out a new look - which is ultimately all it is. It's generally white people who take the heat for these situations, unsurprisingly.

vonasaurus · Answer

i agree with you that culture should be shared and celebrated. as long as as long as we are respectful, i see no reason that this should be an issue.

unfrotunately, real cultural appropriation is abused by sjws so that they have something else to get offended about.

BeautifulPromisesx · Answer

I don't agree at all. There's a difference between someone who actually researches and wants to learn about a culture and practices it respectfully however someone's culture/religious practices isn't something you randomly do just to be "like omg so instagram worthy" or "omg aesthetics".. just no. There's a difference.

Neverrrmore · Answer

Dear asker, I love your rant. I completely agree. This made me smile. Signed,  A white girl that once had microbraids

Jackblue · Answer

I think it is too one sided. If a white person imitates a minority cultural thing they are called a racist. On the other hand black men play the part of Santa Claus (a European tradition), but the only ones being called racists are the little white children who comment that Santa Claus isn't black.

helloitsmethere · Answer

Cultural appropriation is like Kylie Jenner saying she 'started' the wig trend (she LITERALLY said that last year) when clearly people have been wearing wigs before Nefertiti was even born. THAT'S cultural appropriation. Taking credit for something from another culture that you didn't invent.

Izumiblu · Answer

its stupid, on one hand we praise diversity on the other hand we punish it with arbitrary decisions about what is culturally appropriate for one person vs another.

It's a problem for people that have no better ideas how to improve life around them.

meatballs21 · Answer

All the efforts to promote multiculturalism, acceptance and unity among humanity over the last half century are being thrown away by touched in the head SJWs who are basically pushing for segregation.

Blitzkrieger · Answer

cultural appropriation is the product of multiculturalism. Culture is the cement which holds a people together, it is connected to its folklore (folk meaning people, you get it?) you mix it up with all other world cultures out there you get one big stinking soup.
https://i.imgur.com/RUu0oiB.png
Cultural appropriation wouldn't be a thing if the idea that multiculturalism would make the world a utopia and would magically solve problems like racism wasn't jackhammered into the brains of this generation. It leaves many people from many cultures and backgrounds confused as fuck. And it creates new conflict.

NOW ON THE OTHER HAND.

If you have cultural exchange like museums exchanging and touring works of art and historical cultural works thats a whole different story.

fauchelevent · Answer

I really don't care. I agree with arguments on both sides but meh, it doesn't bother me enough anymore to actually be bothered by it.

bente2 · Answer

I HATE 'cultural appropriation'. People complain 'white people have no culture' 'white people are bigots and racist' and then exclude a single race out of 'their' culture. Wtf?

SovereignessofVamps · Answer

It totally is. You can't tell others what to wear. People just love drama.

Nadzzz · Answer

I wanna make some dreads bcs I like them and idgaf about people who think its inappropriate

samhradh_leannan · Answer

Cultural appropriation can be wrong or totally normal depending on exactly what is being appropriated and how it is being done.

jaydtre · Answer

The Cash Me Ousside girl is cultural appropriation, any typical ghetto black chick acting like her wouldn't get this amount of attention lmao

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