It’s a topic that’s been heavily featured in the media recently. In fact, you’ve probably already heard of it from Kylie Jenner’s controversial cornrows (read Emily’s article about that here) and the banning of headdresses at Montreal’s Osheaga music festival. Cultural appropriation is an issue that has come to light recently and it proves to be incredibly complex.
Upon thinking about it, can’t almost everything the categorized as cultural appropriation? Anything from the tea we drink to the sushi we eat, aren’t those all aspects derived from other cultures? Where do you draw the line between a cultural export to outright appropriation? What’s to say that cultural appropriation can’t be branded cultural appreciation instead? Ultimately, does being sensitive to cultural appropriation mean that I can’t get a henna tattoo? These questions all point to the inevitable, that there simply isn’t a clear that outright declares what cultural appropriation is or isn’t. Sure, some examples such as the headdress are more obvious, but the principals behind others become much more vague.
Everyday Feminism Magazine states that, at it’s core, cultural appropriation is “when somebody adopts aspects of a culture that’s not their own.” This definition is unbiased, which makes it difficult to establish whether cultural appropriation is a bad thing or not. In order to delve further into the different perspectives on the issue, I decided to go to Urban Dictionary (quite a good source for biased opinions, really). The two most popular definitions are as follows:
1. The ridiculous notion that being of a different culture or race (especially white) means that you are not allowed to adopt things from other cultures. This does nothing but support segregation and hinder progress in the world. All it serves to do is to promote segregation and racism.
2. When a person takes something with cultural significance from another culture for their own, but doesn’t respect or understand the cultural significance the something has. Instead they only claim to ‘like’ the culture because of what they can gain from it.
It’s no question that I personally identify more with the second definition with the keyword being “significance”, and had thought that many would agree. However, it got more thumbs downs than ups; it seems that many believe that cultural appropriation is not an issue that we should waste time on. If you feel it is so, I raise you this (non-cultural) example to help you better understand the significance of this very prevalent problem:
The Wedding Ring Example
A ring worn on the left ring finger has long been used to commemorate marriage and engagement, some believe that it is a tradition that dates back to ancient Egypt. For wearers, it is a symbol of love and continuous devotion. Now imagine what symbolic value it would hold for those who are married or engaged if it suddenly became “trendy” for everyone to wear a diamond ring on their left ring finger. Sure, the act itself may not be seemingly harmful to anyone, but it degrades a symbol that possesses powerful meaning for a certain group of people. This is what happens to entire cultures when a meaningful symbol is appropriated for the entertainment and trivial enjoyment of others who disregard the significance of it.
Another common grievance people tend to have about cultural appropriation is the question of “does this mean white people can’t have their own culture appropriated? How come white people are always the ones accused of cultural appropriation?” Of course the culture of white people can be appropriated, the reason why it isn’t often brought up is due to a combination of factors that range from past discrimination against non-white cultural groups and the fact that Caucasian races generally have stronger control over their culture. Items of religious significance to the Christian faith, of which is practiced by many races, such as the rosary or the cross can be appropriated and often have been by POCs and whites alike. This can also be said of the American flag.
Going back to one of the first questions I asked earlier, is your eating sushi or drinking tea considered cultural appropriation? To me, the answer would be ‘no’. This is largely because of my belief that cultural appropriation involves the appropriation of things that pose a major significance to a group of people in terms of spirituality, morality, etc. Personally, as a Chinese individual, I don’t feel offended when people that are not of my race eat food from my country casually as I don’t have heavy emotional connections with the food. However, when a group of non-Chinese people begin to see eating Chinese take-out as a cool and alternative thing to do but show distain for those who are Chinese eating the same thing on a regular basis, it becomes a problem for me. Another example of this would be when traditional garb such as the qipao is appropriated by mass media for being ‘stylish’ and ‘trendy’ like the bindi has come to be seen, I can’t help but feel that the patriotic symbol is less meaningful. That is not to say that I wouldn’t allow a person from another culture to wear it. If the cultural significance of the item is realized, acknowledged, and bore by a person with a non-discriminating attitude, I would happily see it on.
What I’ve realized as I have explored this issue is that cultural appropriation and an individual’s perspective on it will differ between everyone, even if it is in the slightest of ways. This is because of the moral nature of the issue; what you find to be an example of cultural appropriation is largely based on your personal mindset. When Amandla Stenberg pointed out her disdain for Kylie Jenner’s cornrows, another perspective from an individual from the Nigerian community points out the opposite, stating that “if other people want to appropriate the style, I think that’s a good thing.” (Source) The conflicting opinions coming from two people who share an appropriated culture is a hint into how vast the possibilities are regarding this issue. Every case is different. You may have an individual who is totally indifferent to their appropriation or someone who recognizes it and respects the underlying importance. It is up to you to decide where you stand on cultural appropriation and whether you feel morally just in getting that henna tattoo.
Cultural appropriation is a complex issue and I have barely scratched the surface. To find out more, I highly recommend you do some further reading:
What’s Wrong with Cultural Appropriation? These 9 Answers Reveal Its Harm
A Much-Needed Primer on Cultural Appropriation
The Difference Between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation
All opinions expressed are my own.
Feature Image: Michael Tran/Getty Images