content warning: racism
Let's be honest... There's no way that you haven't heard of the term "cultural appropriation."
But can you answer the questions: What counts as cultural appropriation? Why is recognizing cultural appropriation important? Who decides what cultural appropriation includes?
If not, you're in the right place!
This post is going to be a little different than my others. I'm not going to define what cultural appropriation is or offer examples of what counts and doesn't count as cultural appropriation. I'm white, and I don't believe it's my place to try and paraphrase, define, and make claims about this concept. Instead, I'm going to offer quotes from people of color that you can learn from!
What is cultural appropriation?
Without consent...
The power dynamic...
"A deeper understanding of cultural appropriation also refers to a particular power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group." (Maisha Z. Johnson in "What's Wrong with Cultural Appropriation? These 9 Answers Reveal Its Harm")
Who's profiting...
"...cultural appropriation is more than just taking from an already developed idea, but more accurately it is the profiteering from the hard work, talent and ideas of Black creators by white artists who are viewed more positively by the media and thus classified as the mainstream." (Amirah Lockhart in "A Stolen Culture: The Harmful Effects of Cultural Appropriation")
Exploiting a minority culture...
"Our working definition of cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of one culture by another, especially in cases where a dominant culture exploits aspects of a minority culture outside of its original cultural context and/or at the expense of the original culture for personal gain." (Emily Chen, Edric Huang, and Jenny Dorsey in "Understanding... Cultural Appropriation")
How to know if something is culturally appropriative...
Overall, there's usually not a concrete, clear-cut line between what is and isn't cultural appropriation.
The most common distinctions I've seen are based on respect and intention.
Based on respect...
Based on intention...
That being said, different people with different identities will feel differently about what counts as cultural appropriation. Typically, what's best is to listen to the actual people of that culture.
If you're Asian and you're not sure whether or not a hairstyle you want to get comes from Black culture, Google it! See if that hairstyle does originate in the Black community, and how Black people feel about others adopting the hairstyle for their own use.
If you're white and are going to be attending an Indian wedding in a few months, first of all, ask the people who invited you! But you can definitely look up online what is and is not acceptable for white attendees at an Indian wedding.
It's important to remember that it is not the responsibility of anyone else to answer these questions. Especially if you are white, you can't just go around asking Black, Cherokee, Muslim, etc. people if something is or isn't cultural appropriation. Take the time, put in the effort, and do some learning on your own!
And of course... If you think something might be culturally appropriative, it's always best to just steer clear!
Common examples of appropriation...
Below I've compiled some different lists that narrow down examples of cultural appropriation by race/ethnicity or a subtopic.
Cultural appropriation within feminism...
While cultural appropriation should be recognized and addressed in all settings, it's arguably more upsetting when it happens within feminist spaces.
White feminists even low-key culturally appropriated third-wave feminism from Black women.
If you call yourself a feminist and want to have feminist conversations, regardless of what specific approach to feminism you take, a baseline requirement is to be aware of cultural appropriation in your own actions and the actions of others - especially if you're white.
Citations
Common South Asian/Indian accessories that are appropriated.
Aarti, O. (2016, January 30). 11 of the most culturally appropriated South Asian accessories - and what they really mean. Everyday Feminism.
Appropriation of Indigenous peoples in Canada, examples and history
Cultural appropriation of Indigenous peoples in Canada. (2017, September 26). The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Extensive analysis of cultural appropriation, including its ties to capitalism and critiques
Chen, E., Huang, E., & Dorsey, J. (2021, February 17). Understanding... Cultural appropriation. Studio ATAO.
Examples of cultural appropriation from the entertainment industry.
Words/phrases that are used and heard when traveling to other countries
Hubbard, A. (2020, October 21). Say this, not that: A traveler's guide to mindful language. Impact Travel Alliance.
Different forms of Indigenous cultural appropriation
Hurley, A. (2017, November 28). Indigenous cultural appropriation: What not to do. The Conversation.
Muslim clothing appropriation by companies and celebrities
Javed, F. (2020, July 22). Double standards and the cultural appropriation of Muslim clothing. Study Break.
List of 9 ways that cultural appropriation is harmful
Johnson, M. Z. (2015, June 14). What's wrong with cultural appropriation? These 9 answers reveal its harm. Everyday Feminism.
Explanation of cultural appropriation and modern/famous examples
Nagpal, H. (2017, June 23). Cultural appropriation: What is it and why is it problematic? Feminism in India.
Americanah author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's thoughts on the topic
Newman, S. (2017, October 17). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's views on cultural appropriation. Writing on Glass.
Examples of cultural appropriation of Asian cultures
Lee, B. (2020, November 30). Racism 101: At what point does cultural appreciation cross over into appropriation? LAist.
Explanation of cultural appropriation in the Black entertainment industry
Lockhart, A. (2021, May 1). A stolen culture: The harmful effects of cultural appropriation. Honors Theses, University of Mississippi.
A guide about cultural appropriation including music, native cultures, and how to avoid it
Nittle, N. K. (2021, February 4). A guide to understanding and avoiding cultural appropriation. ThoughtCo.
Cultural appropriation in feminist spaces and history.
smith, s.e. (2010, September 1). Push(back) at the intersections: Hello, appropriation! Bitch Media.
Modern slang appropriating African American Vernacular English (AAVE)
Thompson, S. (2021, September 7). So much modern slang is AAVE. Here's how language appropriation erases the influence of Black culture. BuzzFeed News.
Examples of appropriation and extractivism of Indigenous communities
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