Cultural appropriation (noun): a sociological concept which views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as a largely negative phenomenon. This is the Google definition of a concept that is extremely difficult to explain in just one sentence. Cultural appropriation is a concept that cuts deep in the social and cultural roots of this country, and this concept needs to be explained, especially since the largest holiday regarding this issue is coming up: Halloween.
This past weekend my friends and I decided to go Halloween costume shopping on State Street. We’re browsing the costume shops when I find these costumes on the stands:
The first costume’s description is “Taj My Hall.” Giving a historical perspective; the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658) to house the tomb of his favorite wife of three, Mumtaz Mahal. It is a historical and religious destination for thousands of people. To sexualize a revered cultural icon of Indian history is inappropriate. This costume, and the two others after it, only fetishize the Indian culture and its aspects. The sari is deeply rooted in Indian tradition and is worn in traditional settings and events.
Seeing these costumes gave me an idea to make a general guide to help people understand which costumes scream cultural appropriation. And going off the sari, this is where I come to my first point in the guideline of Halloween cultural appropriation:
1) Don’t sexualize minority cultures.
A sexy sari, geisha costume, or native American costume is cool when you wear it for that one Halloween day. But after you take it off you go about your life nonchalantly. Indian, Asian, and Native American women face the sexualized image daily – as marginalized groups they are already oppressed. And now with this costume you are only confirming that that is how you view them: as hypersexual “exotic” human beings with nothing else to them.
2) If you don’t belong to a culture, double check if you want to wear a costume that is related to it.
The stigma and stereotype that you wear are just costumes. But for some other people, it’s their life every single day. It may seem cool to wear dreadlocks and afros, but African American girls are constantly told that it is unpresentable and not the “typical” beauty standard. Wearing other people’s cultures only belittles their experiences and hardships.
3) If you don’t feel comfortable wearing the costume in front of that group of people, then it’s a better idea not to wear it!
With cultural appropriation, the problem is that you don’t experience a culture’s pain and past by just wearing a costume. Wearing a Halloween costume related to a culture only promotes negative stereotypes about that culture as well. Spreading false myths about a group of people; generalizing them in to one single Halloween costume is not something you want to do.
4) Remember that culture is fluid – it is forever changing.
Every culture is changing. Our culture, and several other cultures around the world are not the same as they were fifty to a hundred years ago. Wearing a costume throws that culture back a hundred years, and all the progress they had made in your eyes is now hindered by yourself.
Cultural appropriation is a sensitive subject. So as society progresses and our generation is becoming more open and vocal about this issue, it is important to respect other cultures and stay in your proper lane. So next time you see a “Sexy Native American” costume at the store, just don’t even bother. There are so many better options. Honestly. Even being a cat is a better option.