Why “My Culture is Not Your Costume” Shouldn’t Just Be a Halloween Slogan
The statement “My culture is not your costume” has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly during the Halloween season. It’s easy to understand why. Halloween costumes that portray different cultures—such as Native American headdresses, Japanese Geisha outfits, or “Mexican” sombreros—perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reduce entire cultures to caricatures or props for a party. However, the issue is not limited to Halloween costumes and extends far beyond the holiday. Here’s why “My culture is not your costume” shouldn’t be a catchphrase but rather a call for empathy, understanding, and respect all year round.
The Importance of Cultural Appreciation versus Appropriation
The difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation can be nuanced, but it’s crucial to discuss. Appreciation refers to recognizing and valuing the unique elements of a culture, understanding their significance, and using them respectfully. Appropriation, on the other hand, takes those elements out of context, often without understanding their meaning or history, and uses them to serve one’s own aesthetic or personal interests, often while disregarding the people who originated them. Cultural appropriation can be harmful because it reinforces power dynamics, reinforces stereotypes, and erases the struggles and contributions of marginalized communities.
For example, imagine a non-Native person wearing a headdress as a trendy accessory without understanding that headdresses have a sacred meaning and are typically earned through a long and rigorous process. This act reduces the headdress to a costume and ignores Native cultures’ complex histories and traditions. It also perpetuates the idea that Native cultures are static or irrelevant, ignoring their continued existence and contributions to contemporary society.
The Emotional Impact of Cultural Appropriation
The harm of cultural appropriation extends beyond academic discussions of representation and power dynamics. For real people, the use of their cultures as fashion or party themes can be emotionally devastating. Imagine belonging to a culture that has long suffered from erasure, racism or exploitation, only to see aspects of that culture reduced to a costume or a joke without proper context or acknowledgment. It can be dehumanizing and can cause maelstroms of emotional turmoil to members of that race or culture, particularly if they’ve experienced the ramifications of that culture’s erasure or oppression firsthand.
For instance, Black hairstyles, such as cornrows or afros, are consistently source of hair or dress code policies, and have not been accepted as professional for many years. Yet, non-Black individuals who are not subject to the same level of discrimination have appropriated these hairstyles as fashion statements, often without any acknowledgment of the cultural significance. It can be deeply hurtful for members of that community to see aspects of their culture that have been historically deemed “unprofessional” become accepted as fashionable, without any credit given to the Black people who fought against institutional prejudice for years.
Why We Need to Have More Conversations About Cultural Appropriation
Some may argue that cultural appropriation is harmless or that people are too sensitive about it. However, those arguments neglect the broader social implications of appropriation and the emotional toll it can have on individuals. Moreover, cultural appropriation often obscures the real culture behind a specific hairstyle, outfit or accessory. It condenses a significant part of people’s history and legacy in an accessory that outsiders want to wear for fun.
Conversations about cultural appropriation can help to build empathy, educate people, and promote inclusivity. Listening to the people whose cultures are being appropriated is a great way to learn about the real stakes involved and the potential for harm. If there are aspects of the culture that they value and want to share, that can serve as a starting point for a respectful exchange. Members of the wider community can also play an active role in resisting cultural appropriation, for example, by supporting businesses owned by members of marginalized communities, donating money, and honoring those cultural practices instead of reducing them to the latest fashion trend or party theme.
Promoting Appreciation rather than Appropriation
The best way to combat cultural appropriation is by promoting cultural appreciation, which, as discussed earlier, involves understanding the value and significance of a culture and respecting its practices. True appreciation also involves acknowledging that individuals’ cultures are a significant part of their identity and that there are times when it is inappropriate to adopt elements of another culture for personal gain or enjoyment.
Educating oneself on the history of different cultures and their practices, engaging in meaningful and respectful dialogues with members of those cultures, and supporting the cultural institutions of marginalized communities are examples of ways to appreciate culture while respecting its boundaries.
In conclusion, using the phrase “My culture is not your costume” only during Halloween is not enough to address the impact of cultural appropriation on communities. We need to understand, acknowledge and respect the cultures of other communities while still understanding our own. Only by promoting cultural appreciation and understanding will we be able to build a more inclusive and just world.
