Cultural appropriation

People share many things. They share songs and dance. They also share clothes and symbols.

Sometimes, one group takes things from another group. This can include music or ways of talking. They might use a sacred item as a toy.

This can cause a lot of pain. It can make people feel cheated. They may feel like their history is lost.

Some people think this is not fair. It happens when a large group takes from a small group. They may not show respect to the original way.

People talk a lot about this today. They want to learn how to share well. We can learn to be kind and respectful.

People share many things from their cultures. They share music, dance, and fashion. They also share symbols and even ways of speaking.

Sometimes, people take things from a culture that is not their own. This is called cultural appropriation. This often happens when a large group takes from a smaller group. It can include using sacred items as fashion or toys.

For example, some people wear Native headdresses as accessories. This can be hurtful because those items have deep meaning.

Some people say this causes three types of harm. First, it can cause erasure. This means the original story is lost. Second, it can cause exploitation. This is when people make money from another culture. Third, it can cause denigration. This is when a culture is treated like a joke.

Many groups speak out about this. Some tribes have even made declarations to protect their spirituality. Other people debate if all sharing is bad. They want to know if people are truly respecting each other. The goal is to share with kindness and care.

Cultural appropriation is a complex idea about how people share or take parts of a culture. It happens when members of one group adopt elements from another group's identity. This often involves a dominant culture taking from a minority culture. These elements can be many things like religious traditions, dance steps, or fashion. It might also include symbols, language, history, or music.

People often feel this is inappropriate when it is done without acknowledgment. It is different from simple cultural change or sharing between groups.

Some people believe this process causes three specific types of harm. These are called erasure, exploitation, and denigration. Erasure happens when the original context of a tradition is lost or hidden. Exploitation occurs when people gain money or social status from a culture. This happens without giving anything back to the original community. Denigration is when a culture is treated as something trivial or exotic.

This can turn sacred items into mere fashion accessories or toys. Such actions can lead to feelings of loss or violation for a community.

History shows that these debates have happened for a long time. The phrase first appeared in a 1945 essay by Arthur E. Christy. The term became much more common during the 1980s. This was during discussions about how powerful lands expanded into others. In the past, scholars noted debates in places like the Ottoman Empire. Some say architectural traditions from Egypt or the Ottoman Empire were wrongly called Persian or Arab.

These historical examples show how long people have argued about cultural ownership.

Many groups have taken real steps to protect their traditions. For example, about 500 representatives from 40 different tribes met at the Lakota Summit V. They unanimously passed a "Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality." This was done to protect the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations.

Other groups work with the United Nations on rights for indigenous peoples. In the United States, people also discuss sports mascots. A famous example was the Washington Redskins football team. These real-world events show how serious these protections are to many people.

Understanding this topic helps us see the difference between exchange and appropriation. Many believe true mutual exchange happens on an "even playing field." This means both sides share with respect and equal power. Appropriation is often seen as one-sided because of history and power differences. Critics of the concept argue it can sometimes limit artistic freedom. They worry it might create more divisions between different groups of people. Learning about this helps us think about how to respect everyone's history.

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of cultural elements by members of another identity. This process is often perceived as inappropriate or unacknowledged by the originating group. It typically involves a dominant culture borrowing from a minority culture. These elements can include religious traditions, customs, dance steps, and fashion. It also extends to symbols, language, history, and music.

Scholars and activists study this to understand how power affects cultural sharing.

The mechanism of appropriation involves moving a cultural element from its original context. This movement can result in the element being used as a fashion accessory or a toy. For example, a sacred Native American headdress might be worn as a costume.

This process can lead to the distortion of the original meaning. Critics argue that when elements are removed from their context, they lose their true significance. This differs from acculturation, assimilation, or diffusion, which are other ways cultures change.

Some researchers identify three specific harms caused by appropriation, known as EED. The first is erasure, where the original context and voices are hidden. The second is exploitation, where people gain money or social status from a culture. This happens without returning value to the marginalized group. The third is denigration, where cultural elements are treated as trivial or exotic.

Julia Serano distinguishes these from non-EED appropriation, which may actually support a minority community.

History shows that these tensions have existed for centuries. The term "cultural appropriation" first appeared in a 1945 essay by Arthur E. Christy. It became much more widespread during the 1980s. This growth coincided with post-colonial critiques of Western expansionism. Earlier, in 1976, Kenneth Coutts-Smith explored similar ideas regarding cultural colonialism. Even in ancient times, architectural traditions in the Ottoman Empire or Egypt were sometimes falsely attributed to Persian or Arab cultures.

Many indigenous groups have taken formal action to protect their collective intellectual property. In 1993, about 500 representatives from 40 different tribes met at Lakota Summit V. They unanimously passed a "Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality." This protected the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations.

Other groups work through the United Nations to establish rights for indigenous peoples. These actions highlight the scale of the effort to preserve cultural heritage.

Modern debates often focus on specific, high-profile examples. In the United States, the representation of Native Americans in sports has caused great controversy. A major example was the Washington Redskins football team. Such cases show how symbols can impact social perceptions. Anthropologists like Jason Jackson note that these appropriations can cause deep pain or feelings of violation. These instances demonstrate the real-world impact of cultural borrowing.

The concept of appropriation connects to broader ideas of power and freedom. Opponents of the concept argue it can set arbitrary limits on artistic expression. They worry it might reinforce group divisions or promote grievance instead of liberation. However, others argue that true mutual exchange requires an "even playing field." This means both groups share with respect and equal social or economic power. Understanding these nuances helps us navigate the complex relationship between different global cultures.