Is this cultural appropriation ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I hate the concept of cultural appropriation.
I lived in Scotland as a child and loved it, and will wear my Black Watch skirt whenever I feel like it!

I wouldn't consider this cultural appropriation since you were part of the culture.

Exactly, but you see where this is going?
I am half Asian - stupid people on the street will think that I have culturally appropriated tartan.
That's why there is no place for cultural appropriation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I hate the concept of cultural appropriation.
I lived in Scotland as a child and loved it, and will wear my Black Watch skirt whenever I feel like it!

I wouldn't consider this cultural appropriation since you were part of the culture.

Exactly, but you see where this is going?
I am half Asian - stupid people on the street will think that I have culturally appropriated tartan.
That's why there is no place for cultural appropriation.

I think you might be ok as long as you honour your Asian roots on your top half?! At what point do you get to wear American stuff though? Maybe just stick to accessorising, for now

I am a cultural mess really. A white African with roots from Great Britain. Seeing as I am actually from Africa and some of my forebears have been there almost as long as the US has been a country, would I be entitled to wear African style clothes/items or would I be still appropriating something?

[Anonymous]

Hey people, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

It is cloth and metal (and maybe something else). If you're wearing it respectfully and you know where it came from, rock on with your bad self.

In America, it's impossible to tell what others are -- that "white person" might be half Jewish, half Latina. That "black guy" might be Southern Italian. That "Asian girl" might be half French Vietnamese, half Scottish. You don't get to cry "appropriation" because you have NO IDEA what's in others' blood or histories. And if you're aware of what you're wearing, it's appropriate for your area/situation, and know where it's from, that's really all people from other cultures/countries want. Signed, mixed person in interracial/intercultural marriage with beautiful multiracial kids who doesn't care what of our many cultures you want to wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey people, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

It is cloth and metal (and maybe something else). If you're wearing it respectfully and you know where it came from, rock on with your bad self.

In America, it's impossible to tell what others are -- that "white person" might be half Jewish, half Latina. That "black guy" might be Southern Italian. That "Asian girl" might be half French Vietnamese, half Scottish. You don't get to cry "appropriation" because you have NO IDEA what's in others' blood or histories. And if you're aware of what you're wearing, it's appropriate for your area/situation, and know where it's from, that's really all people from other cultures/countries want. Signed, mixed person in interracial/intercultural marriage with beautiful multiracial kids who doesn't care what of our many cultures you want to wear.

You may we'll be right. But how am I supposed to get my knickers in a knot otherwise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey people, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

It is cloth and metal (and maybe something else). If you're wearing it respectfully and you know where it came from, rock on with your bad self.

In America, it's impossible to tell what others are -- that "white person" might be half Jewish, half Latina. That "black guy" might be Southern Italian. That "Asian girl" might be half French Vietnamese, half Scottish. You don't get to cry "appropriation" because you have NO IDEA what's in others' blood or histories. And if you're aware of what you're wearing, it's appropriate for your area/situation, and know where it's from, that's really all people from other cultures/countries want. Signed, mixed person in interracial/intercultural marriage with beautiful multiracial kids who doesn't care what of our many cultures you want to wear.

You may we'll be right. But how am I supposed to get my knickers in a knot otherwise?

Don't worry, there's still the mommy wars!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a quick rule of thumb: would someone FROM the culture of X item possibly be made to feel "other" for wearing X item in your area? That is, would the object serve to mark her as *different* in a way that was connected to her race or ethnicity?

If so, don't wear it, because then it IS kind of offensive that you can "dabble" in it as a fashion without being marked as "different" whereas s/he cannot.

According to this rule: bangles are fine, nothing too remarkable about bracelets. Bindis, not so much. Baandhni dupatta (colorful scarf) over tshirt? Fine. Full on dupatta + salwar kameez? Maybe skip it unless you're going to a South Asian event.

And so on.

This is a great explanation.

Yes, thanks for this thoughtful response.

I'm a teacher and POC. Every Halloween, we get at least one white kid in an offensive outfit that tiles the school up for days. However, there's a more frequent issue of total ignorance about the cultural or spiritual significance of certain things that are now mass marketed. We don't talk about it and misunderstandings are compounded.

I don't understand this word salad and the reference to tiles.

+1. And the reference to a white kid? Completely unnecessary. Dear Teacher, please give us an example of the white kid's offensive outfit.

[Anonymous]

No. I'm Indian and it would ever occur to me to consider this "cultural appropriation." Frankly, though I can't for all Indians out there, I have never met one that gets worked up about non-Indians wearing Indian clothes/jewelry/etc. Wear what you want!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wearing thin metal bracelets, known to Indian and other cultures as bangles. I saw that it was, and I was looking for jewelry online and came across these metal bracelets that aren't decorated besides just the color that they have. I think they are really pretty and would complete a more dressy outfit as more understated jewelry. What do you think?

Well, I guess my DD might be the worst offender ever. She and her friends got Henna hand art, known as Mehndi, not as for a wedding ritual. And here I thought they were accepting of other cultures and curious about it. I better not see a Dutch braid on any of her non Dutch friends!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I'm Indian and it would ever occur to me to consider this "cultural appropriation." Frankly, though I can't for all Indians out there, I have never met one that gets worked up about non-Indians wearing Indian clothes/jewelry/etc. Wear what you want!

I'm the PP. Meant to say "can't speak [for all the Indians out there.]"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a quick rule of thumb: would someone FROM the culture of X item possibly be made to feel "other" for wearing X item in your area? That is, would the object serve to mark her as *different* in a way that was connected to her race or ethnicity?

If so, don't wear it, because then it IS kind of offensive that you can "dabble" in it as a fashion without being marked as "different" whereas s/he cannot.

According to this rule: bangles are fine, nothing too remarkable about bracelets. Bindis, not so much. Baandhni dupatta (colorful scarf) over tshirt? Fine. Full on dupatta + salwar kameez? Maybe skip it unless you're going to a South Asian event.

And so on.

PERFECT EXPLANATION!!

Signed,

Indian woman who does not see wearing bangles as cultural appropriation. ( And I can say with confidence that pretty much NO Indian would care.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a quick rule of thumb: would someone FROM the culture of X item possibly be made to feel "other" for wearing X item in your area? That is, would the object serve to mark her as *different* in a way that was connected to her race or ethnicity?

If so, don't wear it, because then it IS kind of offensive that you can "dabble" in it as a fashion without being marked as "different" whereas s/he cannot.

According to this rule: bangles are fine, nothing too remarkable about bracelets. Bindis, not so much. Baandhni dupatta (colorful scarf) over tshirt? Fine. Full on dupatta + salwar kameez? Maybe skip it unless you're going to a South Asian event.

And so on.

This is a great explanation.

Yes, thanks for this thoughtful response.

I'm a teacher and POC. Every Halloween, we get at least one white kid in an offensive outfit that tiles the school up for days. However, there's a more frequent issue of total ignorance about the cultural or spiritual significance of certain things that are now mass marketed. We don't talk about it and misunderstandings are compounded.

Thanks - our school in FFX has banned Halloween. Thanks a whole lot all you SJWs (whether you call
yourself that or not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey people, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

It is cloth and metal (and maybe something else). If you're wearing it respectfully and you know where it came from, rock on with your bad self.

In America, it's impossible to tell what others are -- that "white person" might be half Jewish, half Latina. That "black guy" might be Southern Italian. That "Asian girl" might be half French Vietnamese, half Scottish. You don't get to cry "appropriation" because you have NO IDEA what's in others' blood or histories. And if you're aware of what you're wearing, it's appropriate for your area/situation, and know where it's from, that's really all people from other cultures/countries want. Signed, mixed person in interracial/intercultural marriage with beautiful multiracial kids who doesn't care what of our many cultures you want to wear.

But the SJWs beg to differ.

They even get offended if you call them SJWs. Can't even call them "politically correct" anymore, or even "liberal;" they prefer the term "progressive" or "neo-liberal."

[Anonymous]

Wearing bangles or any Indian clothes is fine! If you're not Indian/Hindu ethnically but you are a practicing Hindu, that's fine too. If you're going to a S Asian event and wearing a bindi, that's fine. Just randomly using them to decorate yourself is not cool.

I think it was Urban Outfitters or someone who came out with Hindu Gods on flip flops (of all things!!), and that is absolutely not ok.

So it's not that complicated, but it depends. PPs explanation above was great. The only other thing I'll add that intent matters. If you are wearing it out of your own respect for a culture, I'm fine with whatever you wear. If it's just a fashion statement and it does have significance to another culture, don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I hate the concept of cultural appropriation.
I lived in Scotland as a child and loved it, and will wear my Black Watch skirt whenever I feel like it!

I wouldn't consider this cultural appropriation since you were part of the culture.

Exactly, but you see where this is going?
I am half Asian - stupid people on the street will think that I have culturally appropriated tartan.
That's why there is no place for cultural appropriation.

I think you might be ok as long as you honour your Asian roots on your top half?! At what point do you get to wear American stuff though? Maybe just stick to accessorising, for now

I am a cultural mess really. A white African with roots from Great Britain. Seeing as I am actually from Africa and some of my forebears have been there almost as long as the US has been a country, would I be entitled to wear African style clothes/items or would I be still appropriating something?

No - it's the perception that matters more than the reality.

And as a white, you will also be seen as an oppressor so wearing African clothing is not OK in your case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I hate the concept of cultural appropriation.
I lived in Scotland as a child and loved it, and will wear my Black Watch skirt whenever I feel like it!

I wouldn't consider this cultural appropriation since you were part of the culture.

Exactly, but you see where this is going?
I am half Asian - stupid people on the street will think that I have culturally appropriated tartan.
That's why there is no place for cultural appropriation.

I think you might be ok as long as you honour your Asian roots on your top half?! At what point do you get to wear American stuff though? Maybe just stick to accessorising, for now

I am a cultural mess really. A white African with roots from Great Britain. Seeing as I am actually from Africa and some of my forebears have been there almost as long as the US has been a country, would I be entitled to wear African style clothes/items or would I be still appropriating something?

No - it's the perception that matters more than the reality.

And as a white, you will also be seen as an oppressor so wearing African clothing is not OK in your case.

Do you enjoy being a professional victim?