bornabitch-allthedaysandnights:
Can someone please explain to me what the idea of cultural appropriation is and why it is a problem? Really just not getting it at the moment and would like to be a little more educated or have a conversation about it.
Cultural appropriation is the misrepresentation, misuse, and/or decontextualization of traditions from already marginalized/oppressed groups. It’s a concept from the social sciences, particularly anthropology, is researched quite extensively and specifically describes a harmful/exploitative colonialist power dynamic. It reinforces stereotypes, Eurocentric beauty standards, racist colonial/imperial power dynamics, and in many cases can be a form of visual/symbolic dehumanization and is a step in committing genocide against a group of people.
Thu, Mar 6th 2014 at 1 AM