(Disclaimer: As a white individual, I am not trying to overshadow or trivialize the experiences of persons of color and members of marginalized cultures. I write this article with the knowledge of cultural appropriation I have based on my own research in the hopes of spreading the information.)
With every year, Halloween brings new opportunities for children and adults to live out a fantasy, whether that be dressing up as a monster, food, or superhero. But for some, Halloween means having their identity and culture exploited as another’s costume of choice. “My culture is not your costume” is a common phrase going around this time of year, and it holds true. Throwing on a cheap headdress and face paint does not entitle someone to be an “Indian Princess” for the night. To those dressing up with another culture in mind, the costume gets to come off. To those who experience life in that culture, the stigma never leaves. Continuing with the “Indian Princess” example, a white person in a headdress never had to face the genocide of their Native American ancestors and heritage.
(Photo by Tony Hernandez on Unsplash)
Gypsies (an already derogatory term for the Roma people), Geishas, and sugar skulls (pictured above) all fall into the category of racist Halloween costumes to avoid. When people with a privileged position in society mock a minority’s culture by reducing the meaning down to a cheap costume, it is an instance of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation occurs due to a power imbalance and lack of respect between the majority and minority cultures, marking the difference between this and natural cultural exchange. Ultimately, these costumes dehumanize members of that culture. Putting on a sombrero and fake mustache demonstrates a lack of respect, enjoying food from an authentic Mexican restaurant does not.
That being said, there does not exist a specific, definite line between cultural exchange and cultural appropriation. Usually, the customs being appropriated hold significant meaning to the culture they originate. Gray areas become apparent when some members of a culture are okay with what other members may consider appropriation. For instance, one member of a traditional Hindu family could see no harm in Western cultures utilizing henna as a fashion statement while another believes it is appropriation because their customs are not fashion statements. However, a common practice in Western culture is a method of forced assimilation into our culture. Just because minority cultures partake in aspects of Western culture does not give members of Western culture the right to pick and choose.
Food and music are, generally, not applicable to cultural appropriation, so these can be exchanged among cultures freely. However, items such as clothing, hairstyles, and jewelry often hold specific cultural meaning, so, when not applied in the right context, are up for scrutiny. A white individual who has been invited to wear a traditional sari at a traditional wedding would not be appropriation because it is taking part in a different culture in a respectful manner. If the sari was, for instance, worn on Halloween in some type of costume, that could be considered appropriation. In reality, cultural appropriation can occur by any dominant culture to any marginalized culture. Western culture is the easiest and most apparent example as a dominant culture due to the widespread globalization and, often, forceful assimilation.