Question for POCs on cultural appropriation- (1 Viewer)

[Chaeee]

Is it still CA if people aren’t offended by it?

I’ve met quite a few black people who don’t seem to mind when nb people wear braids or cornrows, Muslims/South Asians who don’t mind people wearing henna, Native Americans who don’t mind people wearing feathers, etc, and they all actually like sharing their culture as long as people wear it properly and respectfully.

Are opinions like that valid?
And is CA subjective rather than objective?
I hope I don’t sound ignorant and worded this well, I just want to understand cases like this more

 

[princesita]

Yes, POC are not a monolith and some POC might not be offended and some are. Being offended doesn't dictate if something is or isn't CA.

 

[princesita]

Are opinions like that valid?
And is CA subjective rather than objective?

yes, opinions like that are vaild, all opinions are.
CA can be subjective depending on certain things. Like some people say styling baby hairs is CA because it's a trend that black women started and popularized, and some disagree. What is not subjective is braids, cornrows, dreads, etc.

 

[Tickita]

You sound fine

Google says appropriation is taking something without permission, and appreciation is a full or sensitive understanding of something. The experiences you had sounds like cultural appreciation, "as long as people wear it properly and respectfully." It reminds me of when there are interracial couples or a non-American wedding - the culture is being shared willingly by the people in that culture.

And yes, those opinions are valid. You're definitely going to find more people who aren't offended by CA; it's common. Whether or not someone is offended doesn't determine if what was done was okay.

Subjective vs objective is a good question, and right now I can't answer that. It's something to think about.

My opinion.

 

[tai]

If it is being done properly and with respect to the cultures, then i can see it as cultural appreciation instead of appropriation.. especially if research as to why it's culturally significant was done. Over all it depends on the context and intentions.

 

[litc]

Is it still CA if people aren’t offended by it?

I’ve met quite a few black people who don’t seem to mind when nb people wear braids or cornrows, Muslims/South Asians who don’t mind people wearing henna, Native Americans who don’t mind people wearing feathers, etc, and they all actually like sharing their culture as long as people wear it properly and respectfully.

Are opinions like that valid?
And is CA subjective rather than objective?
I hope I don’t sound ignorant and worded this well, I just want to understand cases like this more

I am only speaking on Henna as it's the only one I have grounds to speak on.

But Henna itself is not cultural appropriation, unless it's done with specific religious, marriage, etc. symbols to someone it doesn't apply to. Henna is literally just a dye used as a sort of herbal temporary tattooing, that is also used for religious reasons and for marriage ceremonies in certain patterns.

But if you understand what it's for, and just use henna as a means of temporary tattooing on your body without symbols that don't apply to you, it's not cultural appropriation.

Indian Americans actually spread awareness and educate others about henna and the culture by giving children temporary tattoo like designs on the backs of their hands, much like face painting at a carnival. This was done at my elementary school, and also at a place where I took swim lessons, both when I was 7 or younger. I literally got a rocket on the back of my hand cuz I thought rockets were cool. Henna is actually a part of my culture, but plenty of white kids were getting stuff like flowers drawn with henna on the back of their hand by actual 1st gen immigrant Indian Americans, who moved to the US as adults, and learning about this part of our culture and there was nothing wrong with it

 

[litc]

If it is being done properly and with respect to the cultures, then i can see it as cultural appreciation instead of appropriation.. especially if research as to why it's culturally significant was done. Over all it depends on the context and intentions.

very well said

 

[The_LastRomeo]

I am only speaking on Henna as it's the only one I have grounds to speak on.

But Henna itself is not cultural appropriation, unless it's done with specific religious, marriage, etc. symbols to someone it doesn't apply to. Henna is literally just a dye used as a sort of herbal temporary tattooing, that is also used for religious reasons and for marriage ceremonies in certain patterns.

But if you understand what it's for, and just use henna as a means of temporary tattooing on your body without symbols that don't apply to you, it's not cultural appropriation.

Indian Americans actually spread awareness and educate others about henna and the culture by giving children temporary tattoo like designs on the backs of their hands, much like face painting at a carnival. This was done at my elementary school, and also at a place where I took swim lessons, both when I was 7 or younger. I literally got a rocket on the back of my hand cuz I thought rockets were cool. Henna is actually a part of my culture, but plenty of white kids were getting stuff like flowers drawn with henna on the back of their hand by actual 1st gen immigrant Indian Americans, who moved to the US as adults, and learning about this part of our culture and there was nothing wrong with it

Thank you lol

 

[litc]

Thank you lol

It's crazy how people think it's cultural appropriation, when actual Indians literally spread Henna to people of other ethnicities, races, and cultures to educate them

 

[litc]

It's crazy how people think it's cultural appropriation, when actual Indians literally spread Henna to people of other ethnicities, races, and cultures to educate them

Also people whose culture Henna is not even part of, calling it cultural appropriation (not you Rev) just be quiet, please

 

[doll]

personally im never offended when someone uses something of my own culture

 

[The_LastRomeo]

It's crazy how people think it's cultural appropriation, when actual Indians literally spread Henna to people of other ethnicities, races, and cultures to educate them

Since when was henna a part of Muslim culture Bytheway, I mean I know it's done often but it's not culture really

 

[litc]

Since when was henna a part of Muslim culture Bytheway, I mean I know it's done often but it's not culture really

Lol I don't know, I don't really think stuff related to religion is cultural stuff really

Unless it's a religion that's not very widespread and based in a specific country and on its traditions ig (and most people practicing the religion are from that country or their ancestors are)

I'm not Muslim lol, but Henna is part of my culture as it's used frequently in a few Asian countries mostly for weddings ;)

Which is why I mentioned the Indians spreading it

But yeah apart from the specific religion and wedding stuff, it's just used for body art, temporary tattoo type stuff, and people from the countries that use it spread it themselves

 

[Yili]

I don't think I've been offended by anything that could be seen as a cultural appropriation in the context of my ethnicity. I am not educated enough in my Southeast Asian side of myself to know what could or couldn't be offensive to be honest though

 

[Chaeee]

Since when was henna a part of Muslim culture Bytheway, I mean I know it's done often but it's not culture really

Lol I don't know, I don't really think stuff related to religion is cultural stuff really

Unless it's a religion that's not very widespread and based in a specific country and on its traditions ig (and most people practicing the religion are from that country or their ancestors are)

I'm not Muslim lol, but Henna is part of my culture as it's used frequently in a few Asian countries mostly for weddings ;)

Which is why I mentioned the Indians spreading it

But yeah apart from the specific religion and wedding stuff, it's just used for body art, temporary tattoo type stuff, and people from the countries that use it spread it themselves

I really? I didn’t know, sorry about that Rikai. Thanks for educating that to me

 

[The_LastRomeo]

I really? I didn’t know, sorry about that Rikai. Thanks for educating that to me

It's no problem^^

 

[Michael]

Something I use almost everyday could be seen as "cultural appropriation", yet I use it more on an appreciative manner.

 

[Villains]

i think it just depends on the intentions. for example using a part of someone's culture just as an aesthetic or seeing it as a "trend" could be quite offensive. if it's done in a respective way, showing appreciation towards that culture and doing research on it instead of just taking from it then that's not a problem in my opinion.

i actually went to an interracial wedding a while ago. the bride was pakistani and the groom was white. everyone there was wearing traditional pakistani clothing and following the traditions of pakistani weddings. but that's a whole different situation. that wouldn't be CA because it's a literal wedding.

idk if that helped, i'm not good with putting my thoughts into words^^

 

[litc]

i think it just depends on the intentions. for example using a part of someone's culture just as an aesthetic or seeing it as a "trend" could be quite offensive. if it's done in a respective way, showing appreciation towards that culture and doing research on it instead of just taking from it then that's not a problem in my opinion.

i actually went to an interracial wedding a while ago. the bride was pakistani and the groom was white. everyone there was wearing traditional pakistani clothing and following the traditions of pakistani weddings. but that's a whole different situation. that wouldn't be CA because it's a literal wedding.

idk if that helped, i'm not good with putting my thoughts into words^^

agree, with interracial marriages, it's cute when one tries to understand and appreciate their spouses culture and goes along with their traditions and respects them

My cousin married a white guy this year too and they did do some desi style parts

 

[Villains]

agree, with interracial marriages, it's cute when one tries to understand and appreciate their spouses culture and goes along with their traditions and respects them

My cousin married a white guy this year too and they did do some desi style parts

indeed it's very cute !