Why is henna seen as cultural appropriation? Do you think that it's cultural appropriation?

[CubsterShura]

I don't think henna is cultural appropriation in any way. Henna is basically a goddamn plant that you can grow in your own fucking backyard, take out its leaves (or buy powder made out of henna leaves from a store), make a smooth paste, let it sit for 18 to 24 hours for 'dye release', and then you apply it to whatever part of your skin that you like, keep it on for 4-6 hours, scrape the dry paste off, and you're left with an orange stain on your skin that darkens throughout the day as it oxidizes to a brown to black color depending on how long you kept the paste on. Fill the paste in a cone for more precise designs. Or save your ass from all the hard work and buy henna cones from your local henna artist.

I don't understand how you can claim a whole PLANT to belong to you. Plants are a thing of nature and it's for all of us.

I understand use of certain SYMBOLS and things like that being cultural appropriation and I strongly dislike them, but what's wrong with henna on its own? Anyone can decorate their skin with henna whenever they like and however they like. Anyone can plant henna in their house/backyard if the climate is suitable, it doesn't even require a lot of space. It comes from mother nature, you don't just get mad at others for using something that comes from nature. No one can own nature. You understand me?

One might argue that it is cultural appropriation to use henna if this plant naturally doesn't grow in your region. Then I guess we have all been culturally appropriating for our entire lives by the use of spices and other food ingredients that aren't native to our own region!

To anyone who wants to use henna, go for it. It's not offensive if you like making your own designs with it.

[TripleAce]

Kinda and kinda not
So say spices, that’s not Culture really... it’s more just food. There is no culture to spices unless you do something with the spices that involves people and the nation...

It’s mostly a problem when a more dominate group takes something from a less dominate group
For instance... a famous singer using Those forehead Indian dots

Or like white if there is a mass amount of white girls doing their hair like black girls... that would be yes
Using henna when it’s not originally don’t by this country could be yes, not for sure but could be

People are crazy these days lol, everything matters... don’t worry it’s no biggie hahah

[CubsterShura]

"There is no culture to spices unless you do something with the spices that involves people and the nation..." Same with henna too it's just a plant and a paste out of its leaves can be used to stain your skin temporarily and dye your hair and nails permanently. Anyone can use it. It has nothing to do with appropriation.

[TripleAce]

No I understand
But the difference is that culturally people use that to celebrate... that becomes cultural now

Spices are just spices unless it has a cultural aspect to it above and beyond just eating it you know...
Do you kinda see the difference or it’s not really clear? I do agree it’s silly, but it’s there lol

[CubsterShura]

Only because someone is is using it with a cultural significance doesn't mean that it's officially prohibited for you too. A lot of Hindus plant basil in their homes and worship the plant or have some kind of prayer rituals surrounding it (I'm not exactly sure). So does that mean the rest of the world can't cook with basil?

[TripleAce]

1. Yes that is corrrect. Its not officially prohibited and you are free to use it or do it. Absolutely. Dont think you can't just because we have such a thing called social appropriation.

2. Its more relevant if you are a dominate force over the other. So like white taking over black styles would be because hair is a black thing and whites are a more dominate force over black. So what happens is over time. The roots get lost

But in your context. It’s ok. All of south Asians use henna if they want too

Sure it might now trigger some because ‘social appropriation’ is actually a thing now i guess

[CubsterShura]

It's so strange. Previously when foreigners wanted to put henna on their hands and they enjoyed it we used to love it and felt great about that. Now people get offended seeing a foreigner wearing henna.

[TripleAce]

Exactly
When I was your age. This didn't exist. Life was so much easier without all these terms use to identify stuff

Society Is always moving towards more and more and more

[CubsterShura]

True. I do believe that some things NEED to be called out but then, this is getting excess.

[JustBlaze]

Where I live henna is mostly associated with the Hindu religion. So it's worn for Hindu weddings and Diwali. Now for these events people of other races and even religions may wear it , but outside of that they won't out of respect. So I guess it all depends on the region where you live if it's appropriation or not.

[CubsterShura]

Where do you live?

[Roxilicious]

I agree with what you said but yes fs it would be a very thin line though with what exactly they are drawing in themselves because clearly it would not be right to take something that actually has meaning to a culture and use it as a costume

[CubsterShura]

Like I said, as long as you aren't using any symbols then you're good. Henna stains are used to decorate the skin and people can decorate however they personally like. There is no rule that you have to do it the way we do it. That's absolutely stupid.

[Pink2000]

I had no idea it was !! My friend is from Tajikistan and she did my hand for me. It was my first time getting henna and she encouraged me to let her do it..

[CubsterShura]

It's not but some people call it that way.

[CubsterShura]

It's so strange because previously we used to LOVE it when foreigners embraced and enjoyed this little part of our culture. Now people get offended.

[Pink2000]

Girl everyone gets offended by everything nowadays.

[CubsterShura]

Where's the lie 😣

[Cammy137]

Cultural appropriation is a retarded term and I don't view it as being valid

[Grond21]

Cultural appropriation is a made up term by people who want more control of other people's lives, and i put no stock in it. It's also heavily laced with white guilt

[CubsterShura]

I do believe cultural appropriation is a relevant thing and some cases really need to be called out, and I personally don't think Whites are the only people whose actions are to be called out. But I don't think henna is cultural appropriation like many people call it.

[Grond21]

Really? We obviously agree about henna, but can you give me a good example where it should be called out?

[CubsterShura]

Ok. Gucci once made some models on their runway with a turban on, that's worn by Sikh men and it holds a lot of significance to them. And they really disliked their turban being used as a fashion statement.

Even though this didn't happen, let's say this for the sake of example. 'Sindoor' is basically a smear of vermilion on the middle part of a married woman's hairline. Married Hindu women wear it so it's literally a symbol of marriage for them. These days some women don't feel the need to wear it all the time anymore, but it's still important.


Imagine the outrage if an American singer or some fashion brand started featuring sindoor as a decoration.

[Grond21]

Those are good examples. I wouldn't call them cultural appropriation though. I would call them cultural disrespect. They aren't trying to appropriate your culture as their own. They are copying it without respecting or possibly even knowing its significance.

[CubsterShura]

They are also called cultural misappropriation, if that's the term that makes you happier.

[Grond21]

The reason I don't like using the term cultural appropriation is not about my happiness. It's because it comes with a lot of baggage. It implies several things. One, that any imitation of other cultures is somehow disrespectful of them. Two, that white people don't have their own culture. And three, that culture is defined by those who are outraged and not by any objective standard. I reject all three of those

[JamesBoradil03]

how would it be cultural appropriation? its a fake tattoo, who gives a shit what culture started it

[ZeussLightningBolt]

Because Liberals are a bunch of mentally ill retards!

[Maximilian294]

Everyone who ever says something is cultural appropriation needs to get their skull drilled

[name_is_eric]

I think it's on the borderline.
It's not typical of Western culture, so why should Westerners use it? There's no need.

[PrincessGrail]

I agree with you

[Hannajenky]

Cultural appropriation is silly

[ROCKS128]

What is cultural appropriation?

[Landshrk0068]

Only morons use the phrase cultural appropriation.

[ChiPaPa]

I don't believe in cultural appropriation.

[SUMAIREBRAHIM]

Yes here everyone uses it

[Hurdleez-Swampede]

I wouldn't think it's cultural appropriate.