Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

It's religious. I do not understand why they even allow bindis to be sold to whites/non-Indians like Gwen Stefani (who's as white as they come).

First of all, who is "they"?
Second, you are confounding religion and race/ethnicity. Whites can be Hindu, and Indians can be Christian, Muslim, atheist, etc.

Well anyway, everyone agrees cultural appropriation is deplorable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

It's religious. I do not understand why they even allow bindis to be sold to whites/non-Indians like Gwen Stefani (who's as white as they come).

First of all, who is "they"?
Second, you are confounding religion and race/ethnicity. Whites can be Hindu, and Indians can be Christian, Muslim, atheist, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

You know, religion shouldn't be so damn sacred. She liked it, she wore it. The only time I think it should be a problem is if people are making fun of it in some way. Like, hey, if some black woman wants to wear a plaid skirt, I'm not gonna get my scottish panties in a wad.

+1. Also, while they may originally have been religious, they certainly aren't sacred objects like a rosary or something. I wear them for decorative purposes with Indian clothes, but I consider them an accessory - no different from carrying a purse that matches my outfit. I'm of Indian origin but not religious.

You know that in the late 80s their were gang in NY and NY that targeted Hindu Indians. Men and women were harassed, attacked and assaulted.

The gangs called themselves Dotbusters, in reference to the fact that Hindu women wear the bindi as a part of their religion.

Saying that it's nothing but a fashion accessory when Indians have been attacked and targeted for wearing a bindi and being associated with it is grossly disturbing.

If a Hindu women went into a job interview, I assure you the interviewer would not view it as merely a fashion accessory.

It is complete lack of awareness and intellect to say it's no different from a purse.

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?

I think you must be exhausted from overthinking trivial shit like this.

Just don't wear a chopstick in your hair because that's just stupid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

You know, religion shouldn't be so damn sacred. She liked it, she wore it. The only time I think it should be a problem is if people are making fun of it in some way. Like, hey, if some black woman wants to wear a plaid skirt, I'm not gonna get my scottish panties in a wad.

+1. Also, while they may originally have been religious, they certainly aren't sacred objects like a rosary or something. I wear them for decorative purposes with Indian clothes, but I consider them an accessory - no different from carrying a purse that matches my outfit. I'm of Indian origin but not religious.

+100. More Indians share this view than get hung up over accessories & their religious/spiritual aspects. Like who cares. I would draw a line though on printing Ganesh symbols on footwear and t -shirts. Now that is offensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

You know, religion shouldn't be so damn sacred. She liked it, she wore it. The only time I think it should be a problem is if people are making fun of it in some way. Like, hey, if some black woman wants to wear a plaid skirt, I'm not gonna get my scottish panties in a wad.

+1. Also, while they may originally have been religious, they certainly aren't sacred objects like a rosary or something. I wear them for decorative purposes with Indian clothes, but I consider them an accessory - no different from carrying a purse that matches my outfit. I'm of Indian origin but not religious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

You know, religion shouldn't be so damn sacred. She liked it, she wore it. The only time I think it should be a problem is if people are making fun of it in some way. Like, hey, if some black woman wants to wear a plaid skirt, I'm not gonna get my scottish panties in a wad.

No, that's globalization showing via fashion trends.

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.

Listen go to the St.Patrick's Day Parade in New York. All the Catholic school girls march in their tartan plaid uniforms and about 90% of them are AA or hispanic.

Cultural appropriation has to do with something that is ritualistic to a certain group, like a Native American headress. The headress means something very specific and is part of custom. Plaid is a fabric that a culture created and sold, it has no furthering spiritual meaning.

God the Millennials and their obsession with this topic is making me crazy. I heard that at some college the students were protesting fried rice as cultural appropriation because the restaurant did not make it authentic enough. I wanted to slap them all. I blame Lena Dunham.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing a bindi is cultural appropriation??

Well, yes. This is not a new idea: I remember lots of questioning articles even when Gwen Stefani wore one in the 1990s. If you're wearing something for fashion that another culture uses for spiritual observance and expression, that's the very definition of appropriation.

(If you're wearing a bindi for your culture's spiritual expression, though, rock it.)

It's religious. I do not understand why they even allow bindis to be sold to whites/non-Indians like Gwen Stefani (who's as white as they come).

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.

Listen go to the St.Patrick's Day Parade in New York. All the Catholic school girls march in their tartan plaid uniforms and about 90% of them are AA or hispanic.

Anonymous wrote:Don't be ridiculous. Or...

Maybe ask an Indian woman wearing jeans?

Well, to be fair, dungarees did originate in India.

I think *this* is cultural appropriation:



You're fine.

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.

I bet you are American who is saying this? Real African couldn't care less, they have real problems to deal with.