Halloween has always been the best time to dress up and have fun with friends. Most of us remember trick-or-treating since we were very little, and each year came with a new, fun costume to dress up in. However, Halloween costumes should not be an excuse to appropriate other cultures for the purpose of “dressing up.” From celebrities to several other figures in high power, this has become more of an issue in recent years. For example, in 2016, Hillary Duff dressed up as a pilgrim, while her husband was a Native American. He wore a headdress and clothing that resembled traditional wear. Although the couple meant no harm, they clearly did not understand the cultural appropriation actions beforehand. To understand the root of this issue, it is important to understand the cultural appropriation taking place in this situation and why it is seen as racist.
What is cultural appropriation exactly?
Cultural appropriation is the act of a dominant culture partaking in elements or practices of a minority culture. Some argue that this is a good thing–they claim that it spreads awareness of the culture and shows that other people enjoy their practices. This myth is untrue. There is a difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. You may be asking, how do I tell the difference?
Cultural appropriation:
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Ignoring the significance of event or costume.
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Contains themes glorifying the oppression of the culture.
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Adopting cultural traditions and making them your own elements.
Cultural appreciation:
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Understanding the history of the culture’s oppression and traditions.
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Partaking in an event hosted by someone from that culture to share and participate in.
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Asking critical questions like, “What are my intentions with doing this/Why am I doing this?”
Remember: This is about the power construct of the act, not how the act is presented. In other words, a privileged group of people is imposing their power to overtake one’s culture, rather than thinking about/understanding the value of the practice. Although this event is to raise money for a charity, it should not be used as an excuse to mock someone else’s culture as a result.
Cultural Appropriation at WSU
On September 17, 2018, Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity tweeted a photo of their men dressed in “grass skirts” serenading sororities as a part of their philanthropy event. Fiji Islander is a national fundraising event that Phi Gamma Delta puts on at every chapter around the country. As a result of this incident, many racial issues beyond this event have been expressed. A forum to express concerns and suggest action was held on September 18 hosted by the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life and Multicultural Student Services. At this meeting, students asked questions and presented their frustrations about this situation as well as at WSU in general. Several people told the Associate Dean of Students, Dan Welter that racism and discrimination towards the multicultural community and multicultural Greek community have been happening over and over again. Time after time, the minority groups on campus have been overlooked and are tired of being second to traditional Greek life. Students repeatedly remarked that if a multicultural fraternity or sorority had a similar incident, they would be shut down or have funding cut.
There have been students that believe the community has overreacted in the sense that their actions were not meant to do anything except raise money. The way I see it, this event only furthered the conversation of multicultural groups being treated unfairly on this campus in general. So, it is not so much that Phi Gamma Delta themselves are trying to employ hate or racism, it is the fact that students see this hierarchy of power and discrimination all the time. Fiji was another fraternity caught in the high tensions regarding the race complex at WSU.
Dan Welter explained how he is trying to implement more cultural competency training for the Greek community and possible required attendance of multicultural events each semester.
So, what now?
Some of you may still be thinking, The fraternity had no ill intentions, so why does this matter? From cultures who have been oppressed for centuries, they needed to find a way to stay true who they are. Wearing traditional clothing is a part of knowing who you are and where you came from. It represents the marginalization that they suffered how they stayed strong as a result. To prevent further incidents, here’s what you can do:
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Research the culture. Understand what it is you are wearing.
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Avoid stereotyping. Many stereotypes have negative impacts on the perception of a culture. Costumes can be derived from stereotypes, and not always from tradition.
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Stay away from sacred dress. Some costumes are more sensitive than others. Know how the culture feels about it.
From an Asian perspective, I have been made fun of and been embarrassed by the food I bring, the clothes I wear, and the way I speak. POC have been dealing with ignorance and mockery, which is why we are protective of our culture and roots. Even if no ill intent is put forth, we all must ask ourselves how others may feel and how it could affect them. This will come easier with education and furthering cross-cultural connections in your everyday life.
What can you do?
Here are things you can do to increase your awareness of cultural competency:
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Check your privilege. What advantages have you had over others? How can you be mindful of this?
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Attend multicultural events. There are several different clubs on campus that put on amazing events. Challenge yourself to go to at least one to integrate with other cultures. This will help further your understanding and theirs on the perspectives and cultural backgrounds you both may have.
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Have a conversation. If you still find yourself confused or have questions on this topic, talk to someone that can provide that perspective. Whether this is a multicultural Greek or someone from the AAPI student center in the CUB, you can choose to discuss your concerns as well.