What Exactly Is Cultural Appropriation?
You may have heard of the term “cultural appropriation” around the Internet without really knowing what it means, and that’s not uncommon. Cultural appropriation essentially refers to the usage of elements from a culture that is not your own, without permission. This may sound relatively harmless, but in reality, it’s a very subtle yet extremely harmful method of discrimination.
Cultural appropriation, while it’s been commonly seen as a buzzword rather than a genuinely concerning facet of how we treat each other, is a concept that is difficult to clearly delineate. Most of those who attempt to do so, however, agree that it involves some degree of taking important parts of one culture and incorporating it into another without regard for its original meaning.
To get a better understanding of how people feel about this issue, I interviewed a few Westside students and posed a few questions on my Twitter:
Q: How do you define cultural appropriation?
Bryn McCardle, Westside sophomore: I think that cultural appropriation involves taking someone else’s culture and representing it badly or inaccurately.
Amy Hanna, Elon University junior (@aimzeee on Twitter): Cultural appropriation is instances in which people utilize elements of other cultures for base or aesthetic purposes, disregarding [their] actual cultural significance and meaning.
Q: How/when/where have you seen cultural appropriation?
Andrea Chavez Mendoza, student in Lima, Peru: I’ve seen it at Coachella. I used to think bindis were cute and I wanted to wear them until I learned what they were.
Ray Kneeshaw (@raytalities on Twitter): I have seen it in people profiteering off cultures that aren’t theirs while those who it belongs to are rejected, harassed, or even threatened for their own use of their own culture.
Q: Do you think cultural appropriation is a genuine issue that needs to be addressed or is it something you feel is irrelevant?
Madison Kerley, Westside sophomore: I think there are bigger issues to focus on, but it’s something that people should know about either way.
William MacNeil (@Nikose_Tyris on Twitter): It is absolutely something that must be addressed; however, a firm understanding of respect vs. taking advantage must be clearly defined and taught across many cultures.
Priya Sharma • Jul 7, 2016 at 12:46 am
Nose Rings tradition are carried from ancient times as they are considered of great importance. Nose ring has become a fashion accessory now. Most of the girls and boys are seen wearing nose ring now. Some of the traditionally designed nose rings with beads are seen wearing in Indian weddings.
Priya Sharma • Jul 7, 2016 at 12:45 am
Cultural appropriation is sometimes taking others culture and using it in different way without having any proper knowledge or exact value of another culture. Nose piercing and wearing of nose rings by women is an ancient and popular culture followed by Indians, but now it’s a trend & fashion worldwide.