In today’s society, numerous individuals don’t realize many small actions that they misidentify as cultural appreciation are actually cultural appropriation. These contrasts may be difficult for you to recognize, but it’s still important that you endeavor to distinguish them as cultural appropriation is the social counterpart of plagiarism.
To understand what cultural appropriation means, you first need to know what culture is. Culture refers to anything related to a certain group of people, based on ethnicity, religion, geography, or social background. This encompasses values, objects, traditions, behaviors, language, customs, or institutions. Frequently, culture is perceived as belonging to particular ethnic groups. Culture has the ability to unify people in the diversifying action of appreciation, but it can also make people belonging to particular ethnic groups feel detached and oppressed through appropriation. Cultural appropriation refers to choosing only the elements that appeal to you and presenting them as your own, while also ignoring the critical cultural context behind those elements. Appropriation represents the absence of awareness of the historical context that influences the actions of what is being taken. For example, taking a sacred object from a certain culture and fabricating it as a costume for Halloween.
On the other hand, cultural appreciation is the action of respectfully borrowing elements from another culture with an intent to share ideas and spread diversity. An example of cultural appreciation could be eating Vietnamese food at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, or learning Aikido from an instructor with a cultural and physical understanding of this Japanese martial art. When carried out correctly, cultural appreciation can result in creative hybrids that blend cultures together. In order to understand the problem, it is necessary to learn about the context of cultural appropriation. People might not hesitate before adopting a style from another culture that could potentially offend a person of that culture. Basically, they've embarked on a trend because it appears cool but ignored regard to the people for whom that trend is an aspect of their identity.
If you are unsure whether you are culturally appropriating something, here are some questions you can ask yourself
What are your objectives in accomplishing what you're doing?
Are you following a trend or learning about a culture's history?
What would individuals from the culture from which you're borrowing an item think of what you're doing?
Is what you're doing influenced by any stereotypes?
Are you making a joke about aspects of culture?
Are you appropriating something from an ancient civilization bypassing it off as your own?
Are you giving credit where credit is due for the source of inspiration for what you're doing?
Are you dressed in a culturally appropriate costume? Are you neglecting the cultural significance of something in favor of following a trend?
It's crucial to look into these questions and be sensitive while incorporating components from another culture. If you recognize you've done something wrong, it's okay to acknowledge it as a mistake and then attempt to correct it and apologize.
How can you avoid cultural appropriation?
To begin exploring the underlying motive for what you're doing, ask yourself the questions listed above.
Rather than claiming that products you steal or promote from other cultures are your own original ideas, give credit or acknowledge their provenance.
Before you borrow or absorb features of a culture, take the time to learn about it and fully appreciate it. Learn from people of that culture, go to places run by people who are familiar with the culture, and attend genuine events.
Rather than buying mass-produced products from large box stores that are designed to symbolize a culture, support small enterprises established by original members of that community.
Overall, in order to avoid cultural appropriation, it is important to ask yourself the questions above while also adopting an open-minded attitude. It is essential to research the whole culture rather than picking elements or objects that suit your liking as this can reinforce stereotypes and contribute to feelings of oppression.