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- Cultural appropriation refers to the use of objects or elements of a non-dominant culture in a way that reinforces stereotypes or contributes to oppression and doesn't respect their original meaning or give credit to their source. It also includes the unauthorized use of parts of their culture (their dress, dance, etc.) without permission.
www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cultural-appropriation-5070458
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What is the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation?
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Mar 2, 2022 · Cultural appropriation is ‘retracted’ into the dominant subject to the extent that this appropriation can be upheld in symbolic terms: as a subjective entitlement to marginalised identities that may – or crucially, may not – overlap with objective conditions of ownership.
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- Overview
- Cultural appropriation, defined
- Common behaviors and scenarios
- Recent examples in pop culture
- Why it’s a problem
- PSA: Not everyone can be appropriated from
- How to determine whether you’ve crossed a line
- What to do if you’ve crossed a line
- When and how to ‘call in’ someone you know
- Where to learn more
Cultural appropriation can be a little tricky to understand.
Even if you’re familiar with the term and know it’s something to avoid, you might have some lingering uncertainties as to where the line between appropriation and appreciation lies.
For example, you might recognize that cultural Halloween costumes and blackface are racist and never acceptable, but what about fashion influences? Multicultural food and art? Do those count as appropriation?
Ask different people, and you’ll most likely get a range of answers.
Wondering exactly what counts as cultural appropriation? Looking for guidance on recognizing when appreciation of another culture crosses the line?
Read on to get more insight, along with tips on how to avoid making potentially hurtful mistakes.
Culture refers to the traditions, customs, beliefs, and practices of any given ethnic, racial, or religious group. Key elements of culture include:
•language
•art, music, and literature
•clothing
•social norms, customs, and values
•history and government
Navigating the niceties of appropriation versus appreciation can, admittedly, prove a little challenging.
Here’s a good guideline to keep in mind: If you have permission to participate in that culture and use or share specific elements, you’re not appropriating.
Say you’re visiting a Japanese friend from college who invites you to celebrate the summer festival Tanabata. They encourage you to dress in a yukata — traditional Japanese summer clothing — and help you put it on properly.
Wearing the yukata is appreciative, since your friend invited you to participate and you’re wearing it in the right context.
But what about wearing the yukata around your house back home, saying, “Japanese people dress like this every day”? Since that misrepresents Japanese culture, it would become appropriation.
In short, appreciation involves learning and sharing with permission. Appropriation generally exploits other cultures and reinforces stereotypes.
The movie ‘La La Land’
In the movie “La La Land,” the white male main character, Sebastian, is depicted as a jazz expert. He even goes so far as to explain jazz, a music style created by Black artists, to a Black character and take on the role of “white savior” in his efforts to keep jazz alive. Sure, white people can appreciate, love, and create jazz music. But they should also take time to acknowledge its cultural roots. It’s also worth considering why a movie about a key aspect of Black culture needed a white main character and a mostly white cast.
J.K. Rowling’s stereotyping, appropriation, and erasure of Native American beliefs
Rowling’s “History of Magic in North America” stories have earned plenty of criticism for the way they present Native American culture. Her portrayal clumps together Native American beliefs and traditions from several different Indigenous groups, reducing these cultural traditions to stereotypes and fantasy instead of acknowledging them as actual cultural practices that are still part of Native American culture today. She also uses the problematic white savior trope. In her stories, the founder of the American wizardry school is a white woman. Other white characters (not Native American characters) help her establish the school. The school’s houses also feature Rowling’s “reimagined” versions of important beings in Native American mythology as creature mascots.
Kendall Jenner’s tequila brand
A number of people have criticized 818, a new brand of tequila created by Kendall Jenner. Much of this critique focuses on her lack of recognition and respect for Mexican culture, the workers who actually produce the tequila but don’t see much of the profit, and agave shortages in Mexico. Social media users have also pointed out the grammatical error on the bottle, which reads “blanco tequila” when it should actually read “tequila blanco.” Anyone can make a grammatical error, particularly in a language that isn’t their first. All the same, taking a little extra time to research and better understand a culture and its language, and communicate with people from that culture, could easily help prevent such mistakes.
Cultural appropriation causes harm because it contributes to ongoing oppression and exploitation of other cultures.
By contributing to misleading and harmful stereotypes, it prevents opportunities for true understanding and cultural exchange.
People who appropriate cultural elements don’t recognize or honor the true meaning or purpose of those elements. They also fail to give credit where credit is due.
This misrepresentation leaves people of color in a marginalized position where they lack the same opportunities for recognition, success, and profit.
By “not everyone,” we mean “white people.”
Appropriation affects people from exploited, marginalized cultures.
So, when someone called out for appropriation counters by saying that people of color who wear Western clothing and hairstyles, speak English, or eat fast food are also “appropriating,” know that these statements are both grossly insensitive and completely inaccurate.
This notion fails to take into account that people of other cultures are often forced to assimilate, or adopt aspects of the dominant culture, to thrive, if not survive.
Failing to assimilate can carry heavy consequences, including fewer opportunities for work or career advancement and racist violence or threats.
To sum up: “White culture” can’t be appropriated.
Plenty of people have been guilty of cultural appropriation without realizing it. Many trends stem from elements appropriated from other cultures, so you might not realize your actions have passed the point of appreciation.
It’s OK to make mistakes, but it’s also important to inform yourself so you avoid further appropriation going forward.
Here’s the first clue: If a person of color says your behavior is culturally appropriative, take that criticism at face value.
Asking yourself the following questions can also help you make sure your actions stay in the realm of appreciation:
•Am I using this item (or clothing, word, practice, and so on) to learn more about the culture?
•Does my use amplify and support the voices of people of that culture, or does it prevent them from being heard?
When someone points out an instance of cultural appropriation, what should you do?
First, apologize. Then immediately stop what you’re doing. Change your clothes, take the accessory off, scrub the phrase from your vocabulary.
If you don’t understand how you messed up, do some work to understand why so you can avoid it in the future.
Do not:
•insist it’s fine because you have a friend from that culture
•challenge them because “they can’t speak for every member of their culture”
There’s a lot of heated debate about cultural appropriation and what actions belong in this category.
When you witness a friend or loved one appropriating someone else’s culture, you might wonder whether it’s best to keep quiet. If it’s not your culture being appropriated, is it really your place to say anything?
Yes, you should definitely bring it up.
Appropriation is already a microaggression against people of color. Adding to the burden by leaving it to members of that culture to call out the appropriation and explain why it’s wrong only makes matters worse.
Still, shaming someone or criticizing them publicly usually doesn’t have the best impact, so try calling them in instead of calling them out.
Pull them aside privately or send them a quick text or DM explaining what you noticed and why it could cause harm.
You can appreciate and share cultural elements without appropriating. Just know that true sharing requires permission, acknowledgment, and respect.
These resources offer more information:
•Yoga in America Often Exploits My Culture — but You May Not Even Realize It by Rina Deshpande
•Is It Cultural Appropriation? Why Language Matters by Gretchen Brown
•7 Ways of ‘Honoring’ Other Cultures That Are Really Just Cultural Appropriation by Maisha Z. Johnson
•Cultural Appropriation in Fiction: Here Are Some Tips to Consider When Your Writing Includes Different Cultures by Ixty Quintanilla
- Crystal Raypole
May 24, 2024 · In the United States, the groups that are most commonly targeted in terms of cultural appropriation include Black Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic and Latinx Americans, and Native Americans. The following are some real-world examples of cultural appropriation to consider.
Young lists several types of cultural appropriation: the appropriation of art objects (when tangible objects such as paintings or sculptures pass from one culture to another) the appropriation of content (involving intangible cultural objects such as songs, poems, stories)
A Chinese restaurant in New York, run by a white couple, has been accused of cultural appropriation.
3 days ago · Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain language, behavior, clothing, or tradition belonging to a minority culture or social group by a dominant culture or group in a way that is exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical.
Bel Jacobs explores the cultural collaborations that work well, and why a 'spirit of equal exchange' is essential in fashion. And why does concern about it matter?
