Is this cultural appropriation?

[Anonymous]

Our school chose a western theme for its annual fundraiser. Someone suggested that it might be culturally offensive to wear cowboy boots and hats.

The diversity industry has jumped the tracks.

[Anonymous]

No such thing as cultural appropriation. This is a made up thing to cause conflict. We live in a free country made up of many many cultures. Feel complimented when someone of another culture “appropriates” yours. Stop all this bull crap intentional division of our society. Wear what you want. Cook what you want. Be happy. Be proud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends. Like if you are married to a person of Indian heritage and you go to an Indian wedding, yes you can wear a sari no problem, lots of non-Indian people do this at weddings even if they are not married in, because saris are beautiful and it’s considered a respectful way of embracing the culture and traditions.

On the other hand, if you married a Jewish woman (who is not orthodox) and then wanted to dress as an Orthodox Jew, I’d consider that weird and disrespectful on like 4 different levels.

The detail matter here.

This is truly absurd. No Orthodox Jew would be offended by this. You are a nut.

[Anonymous]

OP here. This has been an interesting discussion!
One more thought to add as I’m thinking about it more: I’m realizing part of what makes me uncomfortable wearing clothes from my husbands ethnicity is that I’ve have 30-40 years to tune my weak sense of style for American clothes into something that I’m comfortable with as an adult woman. With south Asian clothes, I’ve only had indirect exposure (not living in the country of origin) for 10 years. Most of my clothes are gifted to me from my elderly in laws (who would be ecstatic if I chose to wear the clothes they give me 24/7! Btw). I can only assume that their sense of style doesn’t reflect what a younger person should be wearing but I’m so naïve (since it’s not my culture of origin and I generally struggle with style) and haven’t had the same lifetime to tune my own style in SA clothes. DH is no help with style either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this board is probably majority white, but I wonder if those of you saying “of course you can, you dummy!” Are not white. White people know you can’t wear stuff or hairstyles or anything of ethnicities where the people are not white without possibly being horribly offensive. We are constantly told we cannot do it. That’s fine with me, whatever makes other people comfortable is fine. But don’t act like this stuff is universally accepted.

You clearly aren't married to or good friends with someone from a different culture or you would already know the answer to OP's question - totally fine, shows respect and appreciation of the culture.

Now if you are a white person who wore a sari to your white friend's wedding in rural Kentucky, that would be weird.

It is weird, but is it ‘Culture appropriation’?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this board is probably majority white, but I wonder if those of you saying “of course you can, you dummy!” Are not white. White people know you can’t wear stuff or hairstyles or anything of ethnicities where the people are not white without possibly being horribly offensive. We are constantly told we cannot do it. That’s fine with me, whatever makes other people comfortable is fine. But don’t act like this stuff is universally accepted.

OP here. I’m surprised at the near universal “of course you can!” Response. I think this PPs post may be along the lines of why I posted the question and sometimes feel uncomfortable wearing the clothes.

I am Korean, and I think this is between you and your husband and his family. I don't want my white husband to wear traditional clothing to a family event, but YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this board is probably majority white, but I wonder if those of you saying “of course you can, you dummy!” Are not white. White people know you can’t wear stuff or hairstyles or anything of ethnicities where the people are not white without possibly being horribly offensive. We are constantly told we cannot do it. That’s fine with me, whatever makes other people comfortable is fine. But don’t act like this stuff is universally accepted.

You clearly aren't married to or good friends with someone from a different culture or you would already know the answer to OP's question - totally fine, shows respect and appreciation of the culture.

Now if you are a white person who wore a sari to your white friend's wedding in rural Kentucky, that would be weird.

It is weird, but is it ‘Culture appropriation’?

Agree. Maybe a better question is “do you think it’s weird when white people wear ethnic clothes, assuming they have family ties?” Or more generally: “do you think it’s weird when you see white people in ethnic clothes?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No such thing as cultural appropriation. This is a made up thing to cause conflict. We live in a free country made up of many many cultures. Feel complimented when someone of another culture “appropriates” yours. Stop all this bull crap intentional division of our society. Wear what you want. Cook what you want. Be happy. Be proud.

+1 What's the point of being a melting pot if you keep your culture all to yourself? Your culture is part of my culture now. That's how America works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This has been an interesting discussion!
One more thought to add as I’m thinking about it more: I’m realizing part of what makes me uncomfortable wearing clothes from my husbands ethnicity is that I’ve have 30-40 years to tune my weak sense of style for American clothes into something that I’m comfortable with as an adult woman. With south Asian clothes, I’ve only had indirect exposure (not living in the country of origin) for 10 years. Most of my clothes are gifted to me from my elderly in laws (who would be ecstatic if I chose to wear the clothes they give me 24/7! Btw). I can only assume that their sense of style doesn’t reflect what a younger person should be wearing but I’m so naïve (since it’s not my culture of origin and I generally struggle with style) and haven’t had the same lifetime to tune my own style in SA clothes. DH is no help with style either.

This is a you issue. Don’t project it on others and don’t try to tell others what they need to be doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No such thing as cultural appropriation. This is a made up thing to cause conflict. We live in a free country made up of many many cultures. Feel complimented when someone of another culture “appropriates” yours. Stop all this bull crap intentional division of our society. Wear what you want. Cook what you want. Be happy. Be proud.

+1 What's the point of being a melting pot if you keep your culture all to yourself? Your culture is part of my culture now. That's how America works.

Agree to some extent since culture inspire others- tunics, jewelry styles, etc. but fully adopting an entire look from a not-your-culture seems different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wear anything you want, any time you want, regardless of your spouse’s ethnicity. Cultural appropriation is a myth.

I agree with you that people should be able to wear whatever they want. But in our messed up world, people will judge you for it, even though that’s dumb.

Years ago I had a beautiful red dress with a flower pattern on it and a mandarin collar. I wore it because it was pretty and got lots of compliments. Two decades later when someone saw an old photo of me in it they commented that I “couldn’t get away with that today” because apparently that was “cultural appropriation.” The world has gone totally mad.

Your friend was right, if you wore a cheongsam style dress to a cocktail party as a white woman it would certainly raise eyebrows in SOME circles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No such thing as cultural appropriation. This is a made up thing to cause conflict. We live in a free country made up of many many cultures. Feel complimented when someone of another culture “appropriates” yours. Stop all this bull crap intentional division of our society. Wear what you want. Cook what you want. Be happy. Be proud.

A lot of the problem stems from things being weird, unprofessional, or unacceptable when someone from that culture wears it. But when white people start appropriating, it becomes acceptable, cool, and fashionable.

What comes to mind are cornrows. Cornrows on an African American are seen as thug, indicative of a criminal, and weren’t allowed in many places like schools and the military. But when white women like Bo Derek or Kylie Jenner wear them, they’re seen as sexy.

Or often, if someone wears traditional clothing from their culture, they’re seen as weird and received bullying or negative commentary. But when a white person wears it, it’s seen as exotic and cutting edge.

Also, people mess it up a lot. I get ads for some cornrow/braid styler, and the videos show white women putting braids in their daughters’ hair. The comments are full of POC explaining exactly how that woman is doing the braids wrong and will ruin her daughter’s hair. Or I see food bloggers make something like “Thai green curry” and the comments are full of Thai people saying “wrong, we don’t even have half of those ingredients here”. When money gets involved, it just makes a whole big mess of everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two scenarios:
1. White person married to spouse of different ethnicity. Can the white spouse wear traditional clothes from spouses ethnicity to social events (parties, weddings)?
Does it matter what the event is? What of the event is focused on a culture event (religious or other cultural event where cultural clothing is usually worn).

No they can’t. Also if you’re not Italian you should not eat pizza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends. Like if you are married to a person of Indian heritage and you go to an Indian wedding, yes you can wear a sari no problem, lots of non-Indian people do this at weddings even if they are not married in, because saris are beautiful and it’s considered a respectful way of embracing the culture and traditions.

On the other hand, if you married a Jewish woman (who is not orthodox) and then wanted to dress as an Orthodox Jew, I’d consider that weird and disrespectful on like 4 different levels.

The detail matter here.

Dressing modestly in Orthodox settings would be considered respectful regardless of your religion. Are you thinking of ultra orthodox attire like side curls and tall fur hats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this board is probably majority white, but I wonder if those of you saying “of course you can, you dummy!” Are not white. White people know you can’t wear stuff or hairstyles or anything of ethnicities where the people are not white without possibly being horribly offensive. We are constantly told we cannot do it. That’s fine with me, whatever makes other people comfortable is fine. But don’t act like this stuff is universally accepted.

You clearly aren't married to or good friends with someone from a different culture or you would already know the answer to OP's question - totally fine, shows respect and appreciation of the culture.

Now if you are a white person who wore a sari to your white friend's wedding in rural Kentucky, that would be weird.

It is weird, but is it ‘Culture appropriation’?

Agree. Maybe a better question is “do you think it’s weird when white people wear ethnic clothes, assuming they have family ties?” Or more generally: “do you think it’s weird when you see white people in ethnic clothes?”

Please stop using “ethnic” in a way that means “non white”. I am white, but a specific minority ethnicity in my home country and we too have traditional clothes.