Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsElementsTypesContextExamplesIdentificationAvoiding
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Table of Contents
Elements
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Context
Examples
Identification
Avoiding
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Cultural appropriation refers to the use of objects or elements of a non-dominant culture in a way that reinforcesstereotypesor contributes tooppressionand 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.
In this way, cultural appropriation is a layered and nuanced phenomenon that many people may have trouble understanding and may not realize when they are doing it themselves.
It can be natural to merge and blend cultures as people from different backgrounds come together and interact. In fact, many wonderful inventions and creations have been born from the merging of such cultures (such as country music).
However, the line is drawn when a dominant cultural group makes use of elements of a non-dominant group in a way that the non-dominant group views as exploitative.
Elements of Cultural Appropriation
Culture
Culturerefers to anything associated with a group of people based on their ethnicity, religion, geography, or social environment. This might include beliefs, traditions, language, objects, ideas, behaviors, customs, values, or institutions.It’s not uncommon for culture to be thought of as belonging to particular ethnic groups.
Differences Between Race vs. Ethnicity
Appropriation
Appropriation refers to taking something that doesn’t belong to you or your culture. In the case of cultural appropriation, it is an exchange that happens when a dominant group takes or “borrows” something from a minority group that has historically been exploited or oppressed.
In this sense, appropriation involves a lack of understanding of or appreciation for the historical context that influences what is being taken. Taking a sacred object from a historically marginalized culture and producing it as part of a Halloween costume is one example.
Cultural Denigration
Cultural Appreciation & Respect
Cultural appreciation, on the other hand, is the respectful borrowing of elements from another culture with an interest in sharing ideas anddiversifying oneself. Examples would include learning martial arts from an instructor with an understanding of the practice from a cultural perspective or eating Indian food at an authentic Indian restaurant.
When done correctly, cultural appreciation can result in deeper understanding and respect across cultures as well as creative hybrids that blend cultures together.
AppropriationDehumanizes oppressed groupsTakes without permissionPerpetuates stereotypesIgnores the meaning and stories behind the cultural elementsAppreciationCelebrates cultures in a respectful wayAsks permission, provides credit, and offers compensationElevates the voices and experiences of members of a cultural groupFocuses on learning the stories and meanings behind cultural elements
AppropriationDehumanizes oppressed groupsTakes without permissionPerpetuates stereotypesIgnores the meaning and stories behind the cultural elements
Dehumanizes oppressed groups
Takes without permission
Perpetuates stereotypes
Ignores the meaning and stories behind the cultural elements
AppreciationCelebrates cultures in a respectful wayAsks permission, provides credit, and offers compensationElevates the voices and experiences of members of a cultural groupFocuses on learning the stories and meanings behind cultural elements
Celebrates cultures in a respectful way
Asks permission, provides credit, and offers compensation
Elevates the voices and experiences of members of a cultural group
Focuses on learning the stories and meanings behind cultural elements
Types of Cultural Appropropriation
There are four main types of cultural appropriation:
Context of Cultural Appropriation
Learning about the context of cultural appropriation is important for understanding why it is a problem. While some might not think twice about adopting a style from another culture, for example, the group with which the style originated may have historical experiences that make the person’s actions insensitive to the group’s past and current experience.
For example, consider a White American wearing their hair in cornrows. While Black Americans have historically experienced discrimination because of protective hairstyles like cornrows, White Americans, as part of the dominant group in the U.S., can often “get away” with appropriating that same hairstyle and making it “trendy,” all the while not understanding or acknowledging the experiences that contributed to its significance in Black culture in the first place.
The Psychology of Racism
Examples of Cultural Appropriation
When considering examples of cultural appropriation, it’s helpful to look at the types of items that can be a target. They include:
In the United States, the groups that are most commonly targeted in terms of cultural appropriation include Black Americans,Asian Americans,Hispanic andLatinx Americans,and Native Americans.
The following are some real-world examples of cultural appropriation to consider.
Rock ‘N’ Roll
In the 1950s, White musicians “invented” rock and roll; however, the musical style was appropriated from Black musicians who never received credit.In fact, music executives at the time chose to promote White performers over Black performers, reinforcing the idea that cultural appropriation involves a negative impact on a non-dominant group.
Sweat Lodge
In 2011, motivational entrepreneur James Arthur Ray was convicted of three counts of negligent homicide after the death of three participants in his pseudosweat lodge.This is an extreme example of the cultural appropriation and misrepresentation of Native American traditions.
Voguing
Team Mascots
There is a history of major sports teams in the United States and Canada being involved in the cultural appropriation of Indigenous cultures through their names and mascots. Past and present examples include the Chicago Blackhawks, Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, and Edmonton Eskimos. (The Redskins and Eskimos have since undergone name changes.)
How to Know If Something Is Cultural Appropriation
If you are unsure how to decide if something is cultural appropriation, here are some questions to ask yourself:
Explore these questions and always aim to show sensitivity when adopting elements from another culture. If you do realize that something you have done is wrong, accept it as a mistake and then work to change it andapologize for it.
If you aren’t sure if something is considered cultural appropriation, you need to look no further than the reaction of the group from whom the cultural element was taken.
How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation
A Word From Verywell
Cultural appropriation is the social equivalent of plagiarism with an added dose of denigration. It’s something to be avoided at all costs, and something to educate yourself about.
In addition to watching your own actions, it’s important to be mindful of the actions of corporations and be choosy about how you spend your dollars as that is another way of supporting members of the non-dominant culture. Do what you can when you can as you learn to do better.
14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Conference for Community and Justice.What is cultural appropriation?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cultural competence in health and human services.History.How the history of blackface is rooted in racism.Rogers RA.From cultural exchange to transculturation: a review and reconceptualization of cultural appropriation.Commun Theory. 2006;16(4):474-503. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00277.xPenal MA.Blonde braids and cornrows: Cultural appropriation of black hairstyles.ResearchGate. 2020. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.30870.98885Cherid M.“Ain’t got enough money to pay me respect”: Blackfishing, cultural appropriation, and the commodification of blackness.Cult Stud Critical Methodol. 2021;21(5):359-364. doi:10.1177/15327086211029357Kleisath C.The costume of Shagri-La: Thoughts on white privilege, cultural appropriation, and anti-Asian racism.J Lesbian Stud. 2014;18:142-157. doi:10.1080/10894160.2014.849164Fan Y.The identity of Pilsen—Spanish language presence, cultural appropriation, and gentrification. University of Chicago English Language Institute.Reed T.Fair use as cultural appropriation.California Law Review.Boxill-Clark C.In search of harmony in culture: An analysis of American rock music and the African American experience. Dominican University of California.Harris D, Effron L.James Ray found guilty of negligent homicide in Arizona sweat lodge case.ABC News.History.How 19th-century drag balls evolved into house balls, birthplace of voguing.Sharrow E, Tarsi M, Nteta T.What’s in a name? Symbolic racism, public opinion, and the controversy over the NFL’s Washington Football team name.Race Social Prob. 2020;13:110-121. doi:10.1007/s12552-020-09305-0Kaplan L.Inuit or eskimo: Which name to use?. Alaska Native Language Center.Additional ReadingNational Institutes of Health.Cultural respect.Thagard P.Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and denigration.Williamson T.Yes, cultural appropriation can happen within the Indigenous community and yes, we should be debating it.
14 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Conference for Community and Justice.What is cultural appropriation?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cultural competence in health and human services.History.How the history of blackface is rooted in racism.Rogers RA.From cultural exchange to transculturation: a review and reconceptualization of cultural appropriation.Commun Theory. 2006;16(4):474-503. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00277.xPenal MA.Blonde braids and cornrows: Cultural appropriation of black hairstyles.ResearchGate. 2020. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.30870.98885Cherid M.“Ain’t got enough money to pay me respect”: Blackfishing, cultural appropriation, and the commodification of blackness.Cult Stud Critical Methodol. 2021;21(5):359-364. doi:10.1177/15327086211029357Kleisath C.The costume of Shagri-La: Thoughts on white privilege, cultural appropriation, and anti-Asian racism.J Lesbian Stud. 2014;18:142-157. doi:10.1080/10894160.2014.849164Fan Y.The identity of Pilsen—Spanish language presence, cultural appropriation, and gentrification. University of Chicago English Language Institute.Reed T.Fair use as cultural appropriation.California Law Review.Boxill-Clark C.In search of harmony in culture: An analysis of American rock music and the African American experience. Dominican University of California.Harris D, Effron L.James Ray found guilty of negligent homicide in Arizona sweat lodge case.ABC News.History.How 19th-century drag balls evolved into house balls, birthplace of voguing.Sharrow E, Tarsi M, Nteta T.What’s in a name? Symbolic racism, public opinion, and the controversy over the NFL’s Washington Football team name.Race Social Prob. 2020;13:110-121. doi:10.1007/s12552-020-09305-0Kaplan L.Inuit or eskimo: Which name to use?. Alaska Native Language Center.Additional ReadingNational Institutes of Health.Cultural respect.Thagard P.Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and denigration.Williamson T.Yes, cultural appropriation can happen within the Indigenous community and yes, we should be debating it.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Conference for Community and Justice.What is cultural appropriation?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cultural competence in health and human services.History.How the history of blackface is rooted in racism.Rogers RA.From cultural exchange to transculturation: a review and reconceptualization of cultural appropriation.Commun Theory. 2006;16(4):474-503. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00277.xPenal MA.Blonde braids and cornrows: Cultural appropriation of black hairstyles.ResearchGate. 2020. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.30870.98885Cherid M.“Ain’t got enough money to pay me respect”: Blackfishing, cultural appropriation, and the commodification of blackness.Cult Stud Critical Methodol. 2021;21(5):359-364. doi:10.1177/15327086211029357Kleisath C.The costume of Shagri-La: Thoughts on white privilege, cultural appropriation, and anti-Asian racism.J Lesbian Stud. 2014;18:142-157. doi:10.1080/10894160.2014.849164Fan Y.The identity of Pilsen—Spanish language presence, cultural appropriation, and gentrification. University of Chicago English Language Institute.Reed T.Fair use as cultural appropriation.California Law Review.Boxill-Clark C.In search of harmony in culture: An analysis of American rock music and the African American experience. Dominican University of California.Harris D, Effron L.James Ray found guilty of negligent homicide in Arizona sweat lodge case.ABC News.History.How 19th-century drag balls evolved into house balls, birthplace of voguing.Sharrow E, Tarsi M, Nteta T.What’s in a name? Symbolic racism, public opinion, and the controversy over the NFL’s Washington Football team name.Race Social Prob. 2020;13:110-121. doi:10.1007/s12552-020-09305-0Kaplan L.Inuit or eskimo: Which name to use?. Alaska Native Language Center.
National Conference for Community and Justice.What is cultural appropriation?.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cultural competence in health and human services.
History.How the history of blackface is rooted in racism.
Rogers RA.From cultural exchange to transculturation: a review and reconceptualization of cultural appropriation.Commun Theory. 2006;16(4):474-503. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00277.x
Penal MA.Blonde braids and cornrows: Cultural appropriation of black hairstyles.ResearchGate. 2020. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.30870.98885
Cherid M.“Ain’t got enough money to pay me respect”: Blackfishing, cultural appropriation, and the commodification of blackness.Cult Stud Critical Methodol. 2021;21(5):359-364. doi:10.1177/15327086211029357
Kleisath C.The costume of Shagri-La: Thoughts on white privilege, cultural appropriation, and anti-Asian racism.J Lesbian Stud. 2014;18:142-157. doi:10.1080/10894160.2014.849164
Fan Y.The identity of Pilsen—Spanish language presence, cultural appropriation, and gentrification. University of Chicago English Language Institute.
Reed T.Fair use as cultural appropriation.California Law Review.
Boxill-Clark C.In search of harmony in culture: An analysis of American rock music and the African American experience. Dominican University of California.
Harris D, Effron L.James Ray found guilty of negligent homicide in Arizona sweat lodge case.ABC News.
History.How 19th-century drag balls evolved into house balls, birthplace of voguing.
Sharrow E, Tarsi M, Nteta T.What’s in a name? Symbolic racism, public opinion, and the controversy over the NFL’s Washington Football team name.Race Social Prob. 2020;13:110-121. doi:10.1007/s12552-020-09305-0
Kaplan L.Inuit or eskimo: Which name to use?. Alaska Native Language Center.
National Institutes of Health.Cultural respect.Thagard P.Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and denigration.Williamson T.Yes, cultural appropriation can happen within the Indigenous community and yes, we should be debating it.
National Institutes of Health.Cultural respect.
Thagard P.Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and denigration.
Williamson T.Yes, cultural appropriation can happen within the Indigenous community and yes, we should be debating it.
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