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Look at it this way: When you have been colonized, had your finery stolen, and your identity poked fun at, cultural appropriation is not just personal; it points to a bigger picture. If you straighten it you want to be white, if you retain your natural hair texture it is a bold statement. Cornrows, or what I affectionately refer to as doo doo plaits, have become a new trend known as boxer braids adopted by white celebrities. Unlike Dolezal, black women are not able to simply take out their braids when they are done being black. You see, the problem with culture appropriation is that certain parts of a culture are first mocked then mimicked; it sends a message that our bodies, music, clothing and language are all coveted but we are not. Just like in any other religion, we keep some things closer to our heart and spirit. The issue is complicated by the different perceptions of hair cuffs in different cultures. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In conclusion, Hair cuffs are a fascinating example of how fashion accessories can gain traction over time thanks to shifts in culture or society at large. While some may view wearing them as a sign of respect and appreciation, others may view it as an act of exploitation. Not fun to get singled out in dance class, I can vouch for that! The essence of all mantras and divine scripture. According to the market research firm Mintel, sales of styling products increased 26.8% from 2013 to 2015 but sales of relaxers have dropped over 18% in the same time frame due to the transition to natural hair. If Dolezal truly wanted to help, then she should first understand the message her presence sends. Think Youve Got Trans Down, But Still Feel Confused About Non-Binary? Heres the 101 Youve Been Looking For, 7 Reasons Why White People Should Not Wear Black Hairstyles, Separating Out Gender Identity from Gender Expression, 4 Lies About School Dress Codes That Cover Up Their Oppressive Effects, 5 Things to Do (And Not Do) to Support Someone with Depression, If you are getting married to a South Asian, If you attend an Indian festival/ritual and have a vermillion dot placed on you as a sign of welcoming ones guest, If youre getting married to a South Asian, If you are part of a South Asian bride/grooms wedding entourage, When it is not a bridal nose ring being worn as a fashion accessory (the other styles are just fine), If your culture wears them as an accessory like us, If you are an Indian dancer or a South Asian bride, If you are in attendance of a Hindu friends matrimonial functions and the dress code is Indian ethnic but be sure to check with your host first. Weave and wigs are famously a part of black culture. While some may view it as a positive celebration of their culture, others may feel that it is a form of exploitation. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Trans & GNC The use of hair cuffs by non-black individuals perpetuates a harmful narrative that black peoples natural hairstyles are unprofessional and undesirable while making it exotic when used by other races who could choose between those hairstyle options but do not naturally possess them. For those who may not know, the Cambridge Dictionary defines cultural appropriation (I'll refer to it here as CA for brevity) as "the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not. They have been used for centuries in Africa and India, but more recently they have become fashionable in Western countries. This is why the act of "dreading" hair among non-Blacks/African Americans is often appropriation. Lets go through a list ten of the most widely appropriated South Asian accessories and what they really mean. Some wear it on a yellow thread, others on a thick gold chain, yet others have black beads strung together with two vatis representing the union of two strung at the end. Policing people and telling them what they can and can't do with their hair feels draconian and dull. Sound Off: 7 Rings and the Curious Case of Cultural Appropriation That means that at any moment Dolezal could abandon her blackness and leave it on the side of the road. To fully understand its consequences, though, we need to make sure we have a working definition of culture itself. The black beads of a Mangalsutra denote the safety of the grooms life from evil forces. In Native American culture, they were used in ceremonial hairstyles. But be careful when threading the line between showing appreciation and respect for a foreign culture versus picking and choosing elements of it for a laugh. The phrase originated in the 1980s in. Some hairstylists believe that the responsibility also lies with professional hairstylists. There is limited scientific evidence to, Short answer: Does Calquence cause hair loss? Hair rings, also known as hair cuffs or hair hoops, are decorative hair accessories that are worn around the base of a ponytail or bun. If Everyday Feminism has been useful to you, please take one minute to keep us alive. "In the salon, my curls became pelo lacio or straight hair a sign of a put-together, proper Latina, at least according to all the other women there. Unlike with blackface, the history of dreadlocks is not as cut and dry, but the reasons why some black people feel uncomfortable seeing white people with dreads often comes from the same place: the racism and prejudice they have faced. What Is Cultural Appropriation? | Britannica Part of HuffPost Black Voices. There were, Id always find the braiders sitting underneath the palm trees, seeking shade from the sun. One of our first destinations was always Sosa beach, an hour and a half drive from my grandparents' house in Santiago. So what do you think? Then it dawned on me. They have been used for centuries in Africa and India, but more recently they have become fashionable in Western countries. We are conditioned every day, from the all-white magazine covers that dominate the shelves of WHSmith to the lack of representation we have in the media, to believe that our natural beauty is not enough. If you are not from that culture or region but admire a particular cultural item with an embossed history, it is essential that you educate yourself about its context and significance within that culture; be open for discussions and transparency. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It only becomes cultural appropriation when an element of culture is adopted from a marginalized group without respect for its cultural meaning or significance or with the purpose of exploiting the culture The issue here is not the use of the plant; it is the convenient fashioning that inadvertently erases the cultural significance of this ritual that is a bother. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Not that it matters, but as a man, I rather enjoy this nostalgic return to embracing natural hair. If youre a Beauty In A Tik r, I knew I had to review MONDAY Haircare when it popped up on my TikTok For You page not once, not twice, but three times within an hour. Required fields are marked *. Terms like ", Many Latinas are challenging this idea of, But even with positive changes happening, anti-Blackness still exists, and there are many Latinx women who are wary to accept their African roots. Learningabout chemical hair straightener that could make my hair look white eventually provided solace. Hair cuffs were first used by African tribal women as symbolic jewelry to adorn their braids and dreads during traditional ceremonies. Being responsible towards issues of cultural appropriation requires acknowledging historical contributions from different perspectives within broader social stakes. Privacy Policy. Appreciate any culture you want as long as it not physically harming people or animals. This has sparked debate over whether wearing hair cuffs is an act of cultural appropriation. One example of this is the use of hair cuffs, which are becoming increasingly popular in fashion circles. Okay, let's start with the obvious and overt cultural appropriation. However, if youre only wearing them because they look cool without considering how their significance may be appropriated, then you probably should not don them. Whether or not wearing hair rings is considered cultural appropriation depends on the context in which they are worn and the intentions of the person wearing them. It is a testament to how quickly and easily afro hair can dread that within a few months what once were braids became dreadlocks, the puffy regrowth twisted with oils as it should have been. I feel extremely uncomfortable at the idea of limiting someone to a certain set of behaviours and styles because of their skin colour. Dreadlocks were worn by holy men of the Hindu religion, replicating the hair of the Indian god Shiva. and avoid shutting down. Thats not to say that just because youre not wearing a certain hairstyle, you cant learn about it. Like the paayal, infants are gifted with bangles. If everyone reading this only gave $12, we could raise enough money for the entire year in just one day. Body Policing Police: Because Your Body Belongs to You! The foot is regarded in Hinduism as the humblest and most impure part of the body since it touches the ground first. Their origin can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece. They practiced along with us and were respectful about it, while taking great care of the anklets (you are ordered to do so) and learned to tie it appropriately. Furthermore, another issue lies in the fact that much like many mainstream beauty trends popularized by Black people such as cornrows/Bantu knots on white models on runways only became trendy days ago after being sidelined despite being common amongst them for ages showcasing how beauty standards relating race historically focuses predominantly on Eurocentric features mainly blond curly long hair etc. Hair cuffs are small metal bands, often studded or engraved with intricate designs, placed around braids or dreadlocks to add embellishment to hairstyles. Of course, there is something to be said for the fact that Kylie Jenner has profited from surgically enhancing her lips, or that white stars can come off as pioneers by sporting looks that have been cultivated for years by black people. The Tikka is the ornately jeweled part of the accessory that is placed onto the forehead. But we now depend 100% on reader support to keep going. Beauty Appreciation or Appropriation? The Cultural Divide. In conclusion, wearing culturally significant accessories such as hair cuffs is acceptable provided you take conscious measures not to disrespect someones religion or beliefs- much like how you respect someones religious faith or personal lifestyle choice-you cannot ridicule anothers heritage by casually borrowing elements from it whilst making light of its value system. 3 Quora User Fabric Artist Author has 5.9K answers and 2.3M answer views Updated 8 mo Related While it can be irritating, even humorous, to see white people praised for doing something that other cultures have been doing for years, the rhetoric around appropriation is wrong and petty. Step 2: Consider where you got your hair cuffs from. 5. And I explained that dreads/braids are not an option for her hair, hair cuffs might be but Id have to get the answer from other people and its not a decision I can make. Today, we mostly associate them with Jamaican Rastafarians, but dreadlocks have been present throughout history. It is only hair, FFS. Without it we wouldnt have jazz, Tex-Mex or even Christmas trees (look it up). Look at it this way: When you have been colonized, had your finery stolen, and your identity poked fun at, cultural appropriation is not just personal; it points to a bigger picture. In the same way that black people using a computer or cell phone could be considered cultural appropriation . While they may seem like a harmless accessory, their origins and cultural significance should not be ignored. These hefty accessories are meant to accentuate the rhythm of dance and to appreciate the complex footwork for the forms of Indian dance. choosing body art . The design really depends upon the family traditions. In my eyes, its not that serious. Cultural appropriation does not exist, therefore hair cuffs, whatever that is, is not cultural appropriation. It can show that people are receptive to your culture, not that they wish to steal it from you. Indian women have been adorning their arms with bangles since ancient civilization. What's the Intent of Appropriation Art? If someones appropriates said specific style along with wearing the Nigerian Fulani braids associated with theirs by using jewellery pieces such as cowrie shells or beads (which in turn represents wealth.) Minorities face much bigger problems than appropriation and when there are real issues that need to be addressed, you know, like systemic racism and police brutality, I really cant be bothered discussing Biebers dreadlocks.