Sure. But I don't see how that's a bad thing. Cultural exchange is normal. It has existed for tens of thousands of years. It is the root of our human civilization; of innovation and progress. And with cultural exchange necessarily comes cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is all around us. If you go back far enough, there's practically nothing in this world that hasn't been somehow appropriated from another culture.
Also, let's keep it real... how many people actually wear their country's/culture's traditional garments? Not many. I am now 30 and I have not worn the traditional garments of Switzerland one single time. In the same way, I doubt many native Americans have ever worn feathers in a serious situation. In the case of East Asian cultures (the last one looks Chinese), people usually wear the traditional garments for VERY important events such as your own wedding. Other than that, though, they never wear them either. So, that's like 1-2 times in a lifetime. At least that's how it is in my wife's country South Korea. In the case of Mexico I'm not as well informed but I doubt it's any different. I have never been to Mexico but I've been to Costa Rica and nobody I saw there dressed in a traditional way like that (nor have I seen any Mexicans in the US who dress like that).
Native Americans have spiritual animals and worship them much like Christians do for Jesus Christ. A feather is the crucifix as a reminder of that spirit. So yes Natives do wear feathers, even if it is one in a top hat that Chief Oshkosh wore.
It's not about how often you wear those garments, it's about what they mean to their culture and their importance. Something can be important and a big part of someone's culture even if it's rarely worn or used. Not to mention that when you put it into context of, say, the total genocide of a minority... I'd say that adding to that hurt by taking parts of their culture, dressing up in them and essentially mocking them is putting salt into their wounds and is very insensitive.
With the total genocide of a minority, then there would be no one left to be offended. I feel that wearing parts of a culture's clothing or jewelry is a sign of endearment, but for a one day event is offensive. Especially, if the costume makes a "stereotype" of how "all people of this culture appear this way."
@lumos I hear you on the genocide point but I still don't think it has to be viewed as offensive. For instance I'm a big friend of native Americans. I'd be the last person to talk badly about them and I certainly respect their culture. However, if I was into carneval (which I'm not), I can picture myself dressing up like the person in the photo. Some native Americans might see this and think I have nothing but contempt and condescension for them... but quite the opposite is true. I think I'd choose this costume because I think it looks so cool and because it represents something cool.
As for the frequency of wearing a costume... I think it does matter at least in the context of the American melting pot. This may sound offensive but in my opinion, most people who claim to be foreigners or brag about their foreign roots are actually very normal, average Americans. East Asians are a good example for this. While there are some first-generation immigrants who haven't yet (cont.)
assimilated, most of them are American through and through. They call their children Esther and Jimmy, the girls have all the typical American girl talking features (the way the voice sounds etc.), many of them don't even speak their parents' native tongue. So, in those cases I always find it a bit silly when people say "I'm Japanese" or "I'm Chinese". I also find it a bit silly when white Americans say "I'm Italian" or "I'm Irish-Russian-German". No, you're not. You're American. So, within the specific context of American society, I think it's a bit strange to get offended by people who wear these traditional garments of other nations. Now, in the case of native Americans it's a bit more complicated but even there... most native Americans are just normal guys and gals living in big cities, working as teachers and janitors and engineers. There's nothing really "nativey" left except some genetic material. Of course the ones in the reserves still exist but they're the minority.
I mean, I wish we lived in a time where people could dress up like this out of curiosity and love for a certain culture, but a lot of the time I just don't see many people carrying these costumes with any sort of respect. In fact, most of the time I've seen someone dress up as a Native American, they behave very shitty and do shitty stereotypical/racist things. Same goes for someone dressing up in a kimono or other stereotypical east-Asian looking garments, like they'll squint their eyes and go "ching chong". Like I have yet to see just one person dress up like that and not end up doing some sort of racist mockery of the thing they're wearing. Maybe your experience is different but I have literally never seen anyone carry those costumes with an ounce of respect. Especially when drunk.
Also it seems like a lot of Americans have trouble with identity. On the one hand, you have people like you saying "no, you're not Japanese/Chinese etc, you act, dress, talk and behave like an American, therefore you are an American". But on the other hand, these same people who are told that they're American, sometimes feel like outcasts. One of my favorite vloggers, whose family is from China, said that she has been bullied relentlessly for her looks. As a kid she would bring delicious Chinese food with her to school as lunch, but she got bullied for that too and told that it was disgusting. So in a way I don't blame people like her for assimilating and ending up talking, behaving and dressing like "an American", when oftentimes they're ruthlessly bullied for their heritage.
I think I get your point when you say that even native people only wear them a few times, mostly in special occasions, which would then make it okay for other people to at least get some use out of it and let them be known? Yet, at the same time, those very special traditional outfits that are rarely worn even by native people, are now being worn for Halloween!
@lumos Yeah, I agree with you on the bullying part. That is really sad and unfortunate. America's strong assimilation culture isn't just bad but it certainly has its downsides too. It's different from here in Europe where most countries follow a principle of integration, where foreigners somewhat adapt but also keep their own culture in an active way. That too has advantages and disadvantages.
@dipta I mean... I hope I don't sound like a complete ass now but I feel like people put too much meaning onto these traditional garments. Like... you love your culture, I get that. And the clothes in a way represent that culture, I get that too. But it's also just... clothes. It's a bit like with national flags. I don't understand why people obsess over their national flag or their national anthem. In the end, it's a piece of cloth or a tune you might not even like that much (musically speaking). So, in my opinion, people get too offended to quickly about this stuff. If I use a country's flag as pattern for my bedsheets, it doesn't automatically mean I disrespect or hate that country/culture. It can also mean I just like the colors/pattern.
Now, of course it becomes more tricky when historical genocide is involved, as Lumos has correctly pointed out. In that case, I understand anyone who can't be relaxed about it. I don't know... it's a difficult subject.
@BlueCoyote I read your response of "where foreigners somewhat adapt but also keep their own culture in an active way" and thought how true that is with the Muslim population in France and most of Europe. I think if you are French living in France, especially Calais, then you are a minority.
@characterJoe I don't have any numbers on this but I highly doubt the statistics would bear it out. At any rate, I think both systems have their ups and down, like I said. I personally don't believe it is the fault of integration that we have parallel societies of muslims in Europe. The truth is: parallel societies have always existed, both in Europe and elsewhere (muslim and non-muslim). For example many of our extremely wealthy immigrants (expats etc.) are just as unwilling to integrate as some of the poor refugees. And I think there we are at the root of the problem: bad integration. This topic is obviously a minefield but suffice to say I think integration is not a one-way street. I believe the responsibility lies with both parties. The newcomers have to make an effort to adapt, the locals have to make an effort to be welcoming towards them. Only when both parties do their job can integration be successful. And France is one of those examples where both parties have (cont.)
@ BlueCoyote. One of my coworkers is French. He has not lived in France since the 1980's, but even back then he was bullied by Muslim kids. France tries so much to be a nice country, like Belgium, and it back fires on them. Some of the Muslims that immigrate for political asylum are demanding new Mercedes and for Europe to support them. There are YouTube videos of how bad Calais is now. My French Coworker also said there is a Holiday in France where vehicle insurance will not prevent your vehicle in France from getting burned. When I lived in Germany, the Turkish Muslims paid into the German Economy, but would not receive any benefits when they retired. Some of the Turkish Muslims I met were nice people and could integrate well. The Iraqi and Syrian Muslims of today think society should mould around them, instead of trying to assimilate and integrate in to the country they move.
@characterJoe It's not that easy. It always takes two to tango. France as a country has also done quite a lot of bad stuff to its immigrants. Migrants from the Magreb were ostracized in France for decades. In Paris, muslims have been forced into the Banlieus for decades now where the government doesn't care about them and lets them live in a ghetto-like environment without any life perspective. I'm from Switzerland and haven't made any bad experiences with our Iraqi or Syrian immigrants. Their integration in my country works fine. So, I don't think you can make sweeping generalizations about people from certain countries.
@ BlueCoyote. I was in Interlaken once for sight seeing. Switzerland works for immigration because the news and the media never have tradegies involving "Cargo Van driving through the Market Square killing hundreds." The only bad news Switzerland has is natural disasters, mud slides, and avalanches. Is that true with firearms in Switzerland that most citizens are allowed to carry? I know France is not so nice. I am waiting on the day that France will give Belgium the part it stole back in the Midevil Period. When I see Muslim violence in Europe, then the countries involved are usually France, Germany, and Belgium. England used to be in that list, but they broke away from the European Union. The Chunnel that goes from France to England was an easy passage for Muslim Terrorists. I would not be insulted if people dressed up as Muslim Jihadists for Halloween. I wonder if anyone ever thought of dressing up as Mohamed the Prophet for Halloween.
As long they're not intentionally mocking someone like black/white face and similar, I don't get it why people gets offended. A culture don't belong to a race only and everyone can participate in a culture if they wants to. If people can learn new languages, eat new food etc, so why can't people dress like people of other cultures too? Maybe they just likes and appreciate that culture.
When it comes to costume balls, Halloween, acting etc. you're dressing up. When you dress up and acts a role, you're allowed to use your fantasy and be something different than in real life. In a role people are pretending just for fun. I'm not a bus driver in real life, but I can dress up as one if I wants to. Same thing applies to other jobs, culture and so on.
A costume is only offensive if it's black/white/red/yellow face, intentionally encourage to violence or make fun of people.
Even I did put on a costume intentionally mocking a culture, no one can stop me. There is no crime to charge me with. No law barring me from doing so. I can wear what I like when I like for whatever reasons I like within the confines of the law.
@Kiran04, my point is that people have no reason to be offended if the wearer didn't intend to mock someone. If people are mocking others, then it's not weird to be angry. That don't mean it have to be an enforced law. Cheating on your partner for instance aren't illegal or punishable by law, but it's still considered mean. Same thing with mocking people. It's not illegal, but it's mean.
@Kiran04 The law is not everything though. At your age, you should be able to come to that realization yourself. There's also something called common human decency. Now, many cultural costumes are not offensive in my view but for instance Prince Harry once dressed up as a Nazi SS-officer (at a party where everyone else was dressed up as witch or dragon etc.). That's not illegal and nobody could charge him with anyone. However, that doesn't mean he wasn't being a complete knucklehead and it also doesn't mean his attire wasn't extremely disrespectful. I think many right-wingers don't quite get this point: just because you are legally permitted to act like an asshole doesn't mean it's cool to act like one.
@curiousnorway Being offended is not an excuse to force someone to stop or continuing doing any kind of behavior. Like it or not, we are all allowed to treat one another like shit and we are all allowed to completely and utterly disregard the feelings of others. Feelings should never be able to determine the state of any kind of freedom. If they did, we wouldn't have any freedoms at all. Someone somewhere is offended by something, and put enough of those together and you ban everything. Why we ever started prioritizes feelings over logic is fucking beyond me.
@BlueCoyote And at my age I have also come to the conclusion that offense is always taken, never given. You can choose not to be offended and if you're enough of a baby to let your emotions dictate your actions, then no one has any obligation to placate you in any capacity. Like it or not, we all have the right to treat one another like shit.
What does that have to do with anything? There is no law against making fun of someone's culture or emulating someone's culture. So in regards to this argument, what I think of laws is irrelevant. They don't come into play either way.
@Kiran04 You know what's funny about that? It's guys like you who get super offended by certain stuff that certain liberal groups say. If you think you can insult a holocaust survivor and it's none of your problem because "hey, he's just being a pussy", then any person on the left can call you a disgusting racist and you don't get to be offended. Or if you're offended about that, you're a pathetic pussy. And here we get to the heart of your ideology: you think it's okay to offend others and that's their own problem but whenever you get offended, you have all the right in the world to be insulted and shoot back. That's the textbook definition of hypocrisy.
On the other hand, we could also just be nice to each other and treat each other with respect but I guess that's too much to ask for.
@BlueCoyote So? No one is saying they can't say what they say and again, there's no law preventing them from saying it so you still have no argument. They say stuff I don't like. I do thing they don't like. Whoopty doo. No one is breaking any laws so it doesn't matter. I can still mock or emulate whatever cultures I see fit, whenever I see fit, for whatever reason I see fit.
No. Its not. Im from Transylavia , and you all stole the "vampire "thing from our Vlad Dracula and have costumes , movies and even shirts with vampires , Hotel Transylvania 1,2,3. But we never sais its cultural appropriation , even if it was , I'm glad someone likes something from my country. People who get mad about that call other people racist. Man? How can someone who likes and wear something from your culture be racist? People complain way too much and try to get beef.
In my country , we have diffrent cultures , we have black people that came here for college , we have russian people in Moldova , we have Muslims and arabs that came here because their country was and is in war. Here most people will not point at you If you are black or make fun or your hijaab.
I feel like cultural appropriation refers to those who were harmfully oppressed as a group, ethnicity, etc. Like the Chief native American costume could be looked as making fun of them and the large majority of native Americans who were killed and shot at, in this country (their own country). Their are individual's today who have respect for their ancestors who had been oppressed over centuries, and I guess when they see someone unkown make a costume out of it, I guess this upsets some.
I said before, but I think anybody should be free to wear the costume they want. I wouldn't feel offended if someone dressed as any spaniard thing. You can dress like a flamenca or like a torero if you want. However, don't dress like nazarenos cause they look like KKK.
However, I thought Halloween point was to dress like something terrifying, so I don't know what is terrifying about those costumes. Better dress with a broken comdom costume, that's something to fear.
No. It's just a costume. It's not hurting anyone unless you're intending to mock a certain group of people by wearing it, or claiming that culture as your own. So as long as you're not doing either of those, I don't see a problem with dressing up in costumes like these.
I think this appropriation thing is nonsense. If we discover that pants were invented in England, does that mean that everyone who is not English should stop wearing pants?
Your example is a bit hyperbolic, but in thinking about this it did occur to me that at least for Americans, cultural appropriation is one of the things we do best. Welcome to the Melting Pot; we'll take what we like about your culture and do away with the rest. I don't really see anything wrong with this.
@AthenaCykes only if that language is not an official one like learning slang of a specific culture
but language isn't really based on culture. as an example america speaks English. america has dozens if not hundreds if not thousands of unique cultures. so like national languages are really a cultural thing. but specific cultures may have unique language patterns, dialects, slang and word usage
I see what you mean, but learning the slang comes with the territory of learning the language. Lol. The dialect of the person teaching you will often be the dialect you will use if you become fluent. For example, if you’re learning Spanish and have a Mexican professor/tutor, you will speak with a Mexican dialect when you become fluent in Spanish. This is still officially the Spanish language. Now if you learned Spanglish from your Spanish-speaking friends, that isn’t the same as learning an official language. Is the latter what you were referring to as what’s not considered as cultural appreciation?
It cannot be appropriation unless it's taken on and integrated as your own identity. That's what appropriation means. As with so many PC terms nowadays, people wholly misuse and misunderstand the terms they try to toss around.
99% of cultural appropriation is probably of no issue. we borrow and take from cultures all the time and there is no problem. we eat pizza in america. that by definition is cultural appropriation. we eat sushi, do yoga, hell drink beer... anything that comes from a culture outside the US and is done in the US is technically cultural appropriation. most of it is of no issue. people simply have opted to try and suggest something doesn't exist to avoid dealing with it when it does (and rarely) occur in an offensive manner. sort of like when people say racism doesn't exist.
@Madhatters why do we need permission? Another way of looking at this issue is to call it integration or assimilation. We are ultimately the products of our individual experiences.
@RockStarBob i suppose you could use those terms as well but the reality is there is nothing inaccurate with the term appropriation either. you take it without permission because you don't go to japan and say hey we know this is a part of your culture but can we use it... and again there is nothing wrong with that.
I disagree slightly, but on principle of how the word appropriation is commonly thrown about nowadays. It's definitely meant and used as a pejorative rather than a neutral connotation. Now the only way that is possible is to actually claim another's culture as one's own. And that is absolutely rare, indeed. Sometimes, we even misidentify the culture of origin, as is the case with dreadlocks, which originated in India, not Jamaica or anywhere in the Caribbean. But when have you ever heard an accusation of cultural appropriation leveled at anyone who's either Caribbean or even black?
@RockStarBob it doesn't matter if a word gets misused it doesn't change whether or not it is accurate. people spend far too much time defining terms based no their own subjective opinions rather than the objective nature of them. if people have problem with people misusing the term they should make the point of showing it's misuse to put the power back in the word and not with the user.
Then by your reasoning, we can ostensibly take back the neutrality of words like "nigger" (which was only a mispronunciation of the Spanish word for black), or retarded (which was not negative at all but quite literal in meaning)? Does that not sound ludicrous? No sir, we cannot wilfully and arbitrarily change words... This is evident in words nowadays such as nice, or the two I mentioned above...
@RockStarBob not in the slightest. cultural appropriation was not a word created from nothing to debase, dehumanize and make people seem inferior.
cultural appropriation is not a mispronunciation it's a word people use incorrectly at times due to misunderstanding of the word or being offended they perhaps shouldn't. the n-word was specifically adopted in English as a racial epithet
No sir, again, you are mistaken. The "n-word" did not start as a racial epithet - did you fall to read my response? The term was simply another approximation of a foreign word, of which English is replete. The n-word wasn't originally meant to dehumanize or debase - though those were the generally feelings and consensus of the times, that black skinned folks were inherently inferior to their white brethren. The n-word is originally no different than the word tea as it is an anglicization of the French word thé, or as so very many English words have been taken into the language via altered out skewed pronunciations from Latin. (How did we get here?) However, the term "cultural appropriation" ABSOLUTELY has its genesis in negative connotations. That is its raison d'être. It was unequivocally created out of nothingness to do a job that it's utilized for now. And it's ultimately meaningless. I'm glad that we at least agree on that. 😉👌🏻
@RockStarBob the n-word was specifically adopted as a racial epithet after yes referring to dark skinned people in the 1500s. cultural appropriation is and never was a slur. it was and is not used to debase, dehumanize or suggest people are inferior or another superior to.
i can't for the life of me see a similarity between the word n** and cultural appropriation.
Again sir, you appear to be misinformed about how/why the word came into being and usage. While it's true that the word did become a means of racial slurring, it was already the common thinking amongst most whites that blacks were racially inferior. The racial divide already existed, and the word was simply the common anglicization of the Spanish word. It really only took on a life of its own, however, in the USA starting in the mid 19th century as a racial epithet. Prior to that, it was simply a synonym for many other now neutral or unpleasant words.
As for cultural appropriation as a negative term, when is it ever applied as a positive or neutral in today's usage?
@RockStarBob i don't really know that it matters when and whether it is used in a positive way is relevant is it? examples i've provided, pizza, sushi, yoga, meditation, and on and on are all culture appropriations that are widely pervasive in america, people simply don't call it appropriation we just accept their existence.
Yes sir, that's the very point I've been trying to make - they are all forms of cultural appropriations (except pizza - you're mistaken on that one. Italy actually re-appropriated the American reinvention, by Italian immigrants, of what is commonly known as pizza nowadays); however, no one would think to use the term, as it's entirely a negative.
@RockStarBob it isn't negative just because people typically use it to point out what they think is negative. more and more people speak negatively of immigrants and immigration. does that mean at some point immigration is inherently negative?
@RockStarBob i don't think you can state that as fact. i've used it multiple times here in a non-negative way. just because you may hear it used more often than not to point out something negative doesn't mean it's not used in other situations.
Fair enough - though you may use it as such, you are by far and away in the vast minority. My family is Napolitani, and modem pizza isn't at all like traditional pizza. That modern form was born in NYC in Little Italy. The traditional form is a type of bread dough, already baked, and then the various toppings are added. This plus the NYC version evolved into the thin, brick oven style that has become familiar in parts of the world - the Neapolitan pizza.
Being offended does not mean anything to me, nor should it to anyone. If I found you breathing offensive, would you be obligated to stop? People get offended by everything these days, so my willingness to accommodate them has dropped drastically.
cultural appropriation is bullshit. When I was younger my white friends used to ask me to braid their hair and it made me the happiest little girl ever to know that I'd be sharing my culture and that other cultures like my culture. What put the icing on the cake is when my BLACK mom told me that I did a good job, and when my WHITE friends parents told me they liked it. But to grow up and basically get told that the happiness I felt from sharing my culture is racist is malarkey.
I think the concept of "cultural appropriation" (as used by the SJWs) is bullshit. All costumes are, to one extent or another, a product of culture. Take the example of a hypothetical kid who wants to dress up as potato for Halloween. Wouldn't that be offensive also to the SJWs? I think it should be, because where did we get potatoes? That's right --- indigenous Americans. Same thing for people who eat popcorn. Where did we get that? Should Americans stop eating at Chinese restaurants? Where does this concept end?
So, not appropriation or other leftist / socialist current buzzword. Pure and simple, it is just an insult to dress as an ethnicity because all it does is make it look like there is no individual - only an ethnic/race group where they should all be considered the same. Take a look at the Jew costume. same thing.
If you want to dress up a a black guy (and you are white) the LEAST racist way to do it would be a SPECIFIC PERSON (character), such as Martin Luther Kind Jr. It would not be racist to dress up as him, but it would be racist to dress up as just "a black guy".
No, they're not appropriation, they're perfectly fine. It's like saying no one of color can be a disney character because Walt Disney was white. It's Halloween, dress up as whatever you want.
Cultural appropriation in general is nonsense though. It requires cultural segregation. In a multi cultural world such as ours, it is nonsense to do such a thing, we would have to make a point of making sure different racial cultures didn't mix, for example black people doing "white people things" and white people doing "Asian people things", etc.
People need to stop being so damn sensitive. When you go and talk to a native American, do you see a feathered hat and animal skins on him? When you see a mexican, do you see him wearing an artsy poncho with a colored sombrero? The Chinese sexy dress one is pretty fucking stupid and insulting though. That Chinese dress is apart of the culture and they're using it as a sex item. In short, if the costume is not directly skewing an actual culture by showing it in a demeaning light than what it's supposed to be worn as, then it's fine. Just don't wear a sexed up Chinese dress...
I didn’t know it was racially insensitive until someone pointed it out. I know that sounds dumb, but Indian costumes have been around forever and I’ve never seen someone try and do black face. So it never occurred to me🤷🏾♀️ Being made aware of the racial insensitivity I have taken action NOT to offend other cultures with my Halloween costume. Since America is a mosh pit of culture general fashion is open play. We wear whatever appeals as American has no cultural. Most have zero clue where they are natively from. So with that I find most cultural appropriation accusations non sense.. just don’t call yourself the originator of said styles and I couldn’t care less.
I think its bit over the top with the correctness these day. If you look 50 years back, your glorious Americans wanted to enslave all who were not white and today you're like "is this appropriate?" dress how you want, if its not stalin/hitler or any other i think there is no reason to go apeshit... Here in Europe or at least in slavic countries we dont really care about this. We have people dressing up as SS officers just for videos on youtube and people dont care. Maybe in Germany or France they would but yeah. So go for it, if someone screams on you for dressing up just tell them to fuck off. These snowflakes are just weak cunts anyway.
Normally I'd say it's fine to wear a kimono or sari to say a night out where you're genuinely appreciating the dress, but in the context of Halloween it seems kinda rude to dress up humourously as someone of another culture "haha look at me i'm an indian so funny!!". It's mockery, I'd consider that particularly insensitive to wear.
Also I'm aware the head dress in the first costume carries a lot of significance to the native American culture and many find it offensive to just walk about so carelessly and completely dismiss the cultural meaning and use it as a costume. So i'd consider that not really appropriate either.
if you're going somewhere in costume and think someone will be offended by your get-up, then rethink the costume or venue. for those easily offended, recommend they increase their medications and/or opt for a venue where everyone's willing to bow to your personal whims.
Yes. I also want all non-whites to stop wearing Jeans, T-Shirts, Cargo Shirts&Shorts, Khakis, Fleece Half-Zips, Boat Shoes, Polo Shirts, Critter Pants, Jogging Pants, Flip-Flops, Lumberjack shirts, etc. now. It's clearly offensive and unacceptable that anyone but whites are wearing those.
Does that sound ridiculous and racist to you? Exactly. Fuck this. You wear what you like. No one gets to tell you what you can use or don't use of another culture. And if we do that, all non-whites are really getting the short end of the stick (Phones, Computers, Cars, Electricity, etc)
absolutely not. Also, I think they are more like colonization; other cultures can wear your clothes but you can't wear theirs'. WTF? Are you BEING racist or trying to stop racists? The exception is that "Mexican" costume because that is a caricature, not actual Mexican clothing. Same perhaps for the "native" costume. Not because it is "appropriation" but because it is inaccurate and the original version was made with the intention of insulting the culture. I am a Pakistani, I don't care if you wear a shalwar kameez or sari or dhoti or sherwani (which is close to the costume of the Matrix) and I usually wear American type of clothes, I don't even wear shalwar kameez to the mosque.
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As long as they are respectful and not mocking I don't see a problem with it. The native American one, I don't think native americans (I am half native american) have a problem with dressing up like them. I think the problem comes with the head dress which is a spiritual symbol for them. I think same with going as a nun. I don't think dressing as a nun offends people but it's mor eof stuff like sexy nun and other things like that. I'd just say have good judgement and a bit of taste when dressig as another culture.
The whole point of Halloween is to dress up as something you're not. To pretend to be something whether it is scary, sexy, or funny.
This is not cultural appropriation, it is a bunch of people dressing up in stereotypical costumes to get a good laugh, it is not making fun of anybody.
The last one actually fits in the sexy department because the girl is dressed up in as a giesha from Japanese culture, who were known to be rather promiscuous.
People just need to calm down and accept something as a joke, or something as satire or making fun of a specific idea. It's not racist, get over it.
what i dont get is why americans see Halloween as a time to wear any old thing... surely its a thing where you are supposed to dress as a ghost or a witch or vampire or something... at least it still is in the uk. i mean to me its like dressing up as santa to celebreate Easter
No. Costumes, by their very existence, are not cultural appropriation, as they are clearly intended as fantasy. Appropriation is definitively a takeover of some cultural identity by another. This is not always a bad thing, however. It's part of cultural integration. After all, "imitation is the highest form of flattery."
You can go historical or famous, but not representational. So, you might dress up as specific native American from history or film (like Geronimo or Tonto from the Lone Ranger), but you shouldn't go as An American Indian with all the bad stereotypes of an old western. Pancho Villa = okay. Random violent Mexican = not okay. Also, if you're going to be someone historical, try not to do a shabby job of it, and make sure you've researched your role.
This has happened for thousands of years. Unless they're intentionally mocking their culture, there's no need to make a big deal about it. We have bigger things to worry about some girl wearing a sari because she thinks it's pretty and she's not mocking Indian culture.
I think people who wear these are tacky more than anything else.
Though one time a high school acquaintance's boyfriend wore a "mexican" costume and posted the picture on fb. Then her dad said stuff like "You going to come do my lawn and eat some tacos?" yikes. tacky...
They way I see it the POC saying this aren't even practicing the culture the costumes represent themselves. They act in American culture, they dress like popular American culture and do things day to day that Americans do. So can we even say it's their culture anymore? I only see a few of them pull this dress out for special occasions anyway then it's right back to American culture afterward. This is just a way for them to bully white people by calling us "rAcIsT" to get us to grant them social power over us. You don't really see us throwing fits over togas, knight armor, colonial dress, or any of our other historical garb if they wear it.
The only time people complain is when a white person does it. People get so pissy is any white person does anything. They are like, hey that's cultural appropriation, that belongs to us, you're just stealing it! Well if that's true then imagine what would happen if us white folks started taking back what is ours.
They aren’t so much dressing up as a culture as they are dressing up as a character. It’s like if you were a doctor and saw someone dressed up as one for Halloween. If they dress up like a Native American or a belly dancer they are doing it to become a character and not to make fun or belittle the culture in any way. They are doing it to pretend to be someone else for a few hours.
It depends when you were raised. People from my generation would see that as a tribute to that culture; sadly, some people will see it as offensive. It's stupid, but that's reality. We mean nothing by saying that, we're just saying what was relevant at our time.
I dressed up like a danish football player when I was little, just because of the stereotype that all swedes hate denmark. I really don't care about if it is offensive, i simply don't see any offense in it. I see people walk out dressed like putin and speek with terrible russian accent even, and I simpy get a good laugh at the kids who doesn't even understand the wole thing them selves.
Nope fine longs if there not mocking it. Like all these seem fine but i guy can't just paint himself black and go i am a black guy and can only see black, but these photos aren't like that and totally fine.
Plus day of the dead which is different to Halloween but simler is all about culture so it would make more sense to do this.
I think it's just fine. Millennials and subsequent generations have grown up to be so weak and pathetic, that something like this causes them deep outrage. It's actually quite sad, because when something that is actually worth getting mad about comes up, they totally lose their mind because they can't handle it.
There are much more worthwhile causes to fight for, and more productive uses of one's time.
Nobody cares what you think. Looking at your profile, you probably fit the millennial snowflake that I just described. 30 years old, and still dressing up in pink unicorns and coloring your hair like a lesbian liberal. You probably spend most of your life agonizing over which bathroom to use.
You are not an any moral high ground.
The only difference here is that I'm not afraid to call a duck a duck, while you're a fake troll pretending to be a saint. There has never been a single person in the history of humanity that has never called someone names... and that includes you.
So you're calling yourself worthless in your own eyes.
Eh I don't really care as long as its not something ceremonial/sacred which was the main issue with the feather headdress. Its fairly generic though so personally I'm not too bothered by it.
Cultures borrow, its normal. Halloween is one of the more bizarre examples of this.
I think it is okay as long as it is factual and they learn about it. Like if your gonna be a geisha for Halloween you better have a white painted face and a kimono that reaches down to your ankles.
I am sorry cultural appropriation is not a thing.. Its a stupid buzz word meant to keep cultures separate and shame people for finding other peoples cultures attractive. Shame on them for taking imagination away from children.. This sadly is an invention of the feminist SJW, PC left.
It's fine to do whatever. All culture and religion are things to be laughed at anyways. If you dress as Thor, that means you're making fun of ancient Greek peoples culture. If you dress up as Ra, you're making fun of ancient Egyptian peoples culture. Probably 1000 years from now, you could dress like Jesus because that religion or culture would be used as entertainment.
I find it offensive that you portray only white people as being wrong. How about black women that dress oriental? If my friend who studies Japanese really a racist for tattooing hiragana on him? How about all those Japanese people wearing English words they can't even read? It's only offensive to people filled with hate from bad interactions with white people. You prejudice in selection only further solidifies my argument.
If its not being stupid looking I dont see why not. Like the guy with the sombrero and the guy with the native American clothing are probably not good but if someone dresses like another culture properly and respectfully i don't see why it shouldn't be a problem.
Another BS courtesy of SJWs. if that's the case, everyone needs to stop eating pizza and pasta. That's cultural appropriation of Italians. No more bomber jackets. That's cultural appropriation of military. Aviator glasses? Same thing.
And modem pizza! Italians have appropriate what Italian-Americans reinvented! Take back our pizza! 🍕 And so-called Chinese food (along with fortune cookies - a wholly Japanese-American invention) that has been appropriated worldwide now. And American version gyros! And brats, beer, and kraut! And hotdogs, hamburgers, ice cream in cones, T-bone steaks, tomatoes, and tobacco... All intrinsically original North American originals... Let's take them all back! 😋
Personally, I find the idea of cultural appropriation kind of silly. Professional victims will call it out but most people just want to celebrate Halloween and dress up as Satan without offending Satanists.
I dont care about Halloween anyway, so people can dress as whatever.
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Anonymous
(25-29)
+1 y
I think that’s is for a case-by-case thing... I’m sad because I can’t go as Shuri for Halloween... it would be... ummm... potentially seen as... poor taste... (I’m white) but, I admire her so much!!! She is like the geekiest person but so strong and amazing and still feminine... I wish I could be like her!!! She is an inspiration to all girls!! But... I don’t want to offend anyone or make anyone feel like I’m picking on them because I went as her... you know?
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Anonymous
(30-35)
+1 y
If they don't want white people dressing up like their ancestors then they need to get off the internet, disconnect their electricity, destroy their cars, and give up all those other inventions the "white devil" made that those bellyachers are appropriating from us.
I wear t shirts, coats, neck ties or ribbons (for some occasions) and suits and those are originated in the west by white people. I don't see westerners say "Our culture is not your casual cloths" Why is it not ok to wear a Kimono, Dashiki, Charro or etc? As if we're being stereotypical if we do it. They even have modern twist of those costume which is basically like destroying their culture but guess what. Who gives a damn?
Nah I don't think so, in my country we only start do I g Halloween after I was doing it, we had "Bread by God" wich happen in the same day and where poor people asked for food, that why kids nowadays mostly still get plain cookies, nuts, oranges, apples, and stuff like that
I do think it is disrespectful because those costumes are stereotyped.
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Anonymous
(36-45)
+1 y
Purposefully leaving white cultures out of the list. Nice one. People whining about cultural appropriation always leave whites out of the conversation. Meanwhile people are still dressing up as Germans in Lederhosen and mocking Irish by dressing as Leprechauns. But those are fine right?
I mean, I get it, but I also don't think people need to take things so seriously. Halloween is just all fun and games. I personally don't see the point in dressing as a Native or a Mexican, but I wouldn't be horrendously offended.
To me, in Halloween people are supposed to wear a scary costume... no fairies and mexican people... unless they're like monsters to you, lol. But then we also have the carnival around February where you can wear a regular costume.
Well my dad was a firefighter... So does that mean if I see a kid dressed as a fireman this Halloween I should kick the shit out of him for being a racist insensitive little fuck... Basically I think if you can't handle someone dressing like a Mexican or whatever maybe you should tell your people to stop dressing so funny. . I mean come on... a rug with a hole in it should be thrown out not put on your head and called a pancho
I once went to a fancy dress party as a nazi officer and won best costume. Do I support the Nazis? FUCK NO!! Did I think it would get me attention and people talking to me, HELL YEAH! I think you're over thinking it mate. Every country and race have stereotypes. At least it reminds people them cultures do/did exist.
if you think that cultural appropriation is a thing then that means that ANYTHING needs to go back to it's original meaning, so Halloween is a medieval tradition where you wear scary costumes (not funny or slutty : looking at you Mean Girls) to scare off evil spirits that wander in the night. No Candy, no silly costumes and only religious meanings... so no i don't think cultural appropriation is a thing and fuck those who think it is
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