asians, black people, etc, belong to the culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group.
I am Indian, so I am only going to educate you on my respective culture. you can apply what I say about bindis, mendhi, etc, to drag makeup, dread locks, weaves, braids and corn rows because i don’t want to misspeak on other cultures.
when most south asian have historically worn bindis in public in america and Europe, we have been mocked and harassed. we have been put down, called names (including the label terrorist), and bullied, for wearing a beautiful piece of our culture that holds cultural value, meaning and significance.
now, in 2015, when the people who harassed and mocked us for wearing bindis, start to think bindis are fashionable, they can wear it. and they believe that only they can wear it. and they don't even TRY to understand the value meaning and significance it holds.
if white people wear bindis, they're trendy, bohemian, "totally coachella."
if south asian women wear bindis, they're mocked and harassed. WE'RE CALLED TERRORISTS FOR WEARING A BEAUTIFUL PART OF OUR OWN CULTURE THAT HOLDS CULTURAL VALUE, MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE.
now, if you're white and have a south asian friend that invites you to a south asian party, and she gives you bindi, you can wear it! your south asian friend tells you what the bindi is, and what significance it holds in their culture. you wear the bindi. you are then allowed to wear the bindi. she is INVITING you to understand her culture. that is CULTURAL APPRECIATION.
now after that party, if you have an extra bindi and want to wear it to coachella or to a party to look trendy, fashionable and bohemian, YOU ARE BEING DISRESPECTFUL. South Asian women don't even wear bindis to events like that! you don't see us showing up at clubs with bindis on!!! that is because it is not the place to wear it. after being educated about the culture and the cultural significance of the bindi, and then wearing it to be "totes coachella," then you are being a CULTURAL APPROPRIATOR.
there is a difference between Cultural APPROPRIATION and Cultural APPRECIATION.
titsay
gracieabrams
kianamaiart
snowghoul
pixelskylines
