This Is Cultural Appropriation (And How To Avoid It) (2024)

The definition of cultural appropriation is using a racial, religious, or social group's customary beliefs, material traits, and social forms without permission or credit. People who appropriate culture take those identities and pretend they are part of their background. Cultural appropriation also involves power dynamics and refers to a member of a group with power adopting the elements or aspects of a group that traditionally lacks power in society.

How do you appreciate culture without appropriating it? Cultural appreciation involves celebrating a culture with permission from the people in it. You do not misrepresent or perpetuate stereotypes if you appreciate someone else's culture. Another way to appreciate culture is to ask questions and learn more about the art, attire, or language you use.

Cultural appropriation might look like social media influencers donning Indigenous attire when they aren't part of that culture and White people wearing box braids, cornrows, or dreadlocks. Read on to learn about cultural appropriation, why it can be harmful, and the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation.

Cultural appropriation is using or taking something from another culture without properly recognizing or respecting that culture,Mia Moody-Ramirez, PhD, a professor and chair in the department of journalism, public relations, and new media at Baylor University, toldHealth.

Culture is the beliefs, behaviors, and knowledge that are specific to a group of people. Where you live, your ethnicity, your race, your religion, and your lived experiences are all examples of identities that can form a culture. People can belong to many cultures at the same time.

Cultural appropriation is "stealing something from somebody that is not you," Neal Lester, PhD, creator of Project Humanities at Arizona State University, toldHealth. For example, cultural appropriation may occur if you use or wear something that is clearly from outside your identity. The culture that people appropriate usually has been or is marginalized.

"Cultural appropriation is about power," said Lester. "It's about who has the power to steal from somebody else and not offer any consequences."

Another hallmark of cultural appropriation is that the person doing the appropriation might be financially benefiting from it. Typically, the culture that people appropriate does not receive compensation or credit.

Why Is It Harmful?

Cultural appropriation exploits groups that are discriminated against and misrepresents them, said Lester. For example, the wellness industry has appropriated practices from other cultures. Many fitness centers offer expensive yoga classes that emphasize healthiness. In contrast, Indian culture teaches that yoga is meant to be a holy practice that is free to everyone.

Cultural appropriation might be troubling for people in marginalized groups who are curious about their identity. Perpetuating stereotypes might negatively affect mental health,Stephanie Fryberg, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, toldHealth.

Fryberg studies how Native American stereotypes and logos affect Indigenous people. In her research, Fryberg has found that sports mascots that culturally appropriate Native American imagery and symbolism affect Indigenous adolescents' self-esteem. A study published in 2015 found that stereotypes often decrease self-worth in Indigenous communities.

Cultural appropriation is prevalent in several parts of society, including the beauty industry. Research has found that the beauty industry has adverse mental health outcomes, especially among people of color.

"[Black women] are told [certain looks are] not attractive in their culture. Then, when it's on White women, it is depicted as being beautiful," said Moody-Ramirez.

Research has identified four types of cultural appropriation. Those categories help identify how cultural appropriation occurs in society. Experts might use those categories to discuss cultural appropriation's economic, political, and social consequences.

Four types of cultural appropriation include:

• Dominance:The dominant culture in society uses parts of minority cultures.
• Exchange:Two communities exchange aspects of their respective cultures. These cultures are typically equal in power.
• Exploitation:The dominant culture takes parts of minority cultures without compensation or credit.
• Transculturation:This happens if someone takes aspects from several cultures. As a result, it's hard for people to distinguish between the cultures and appropriately compensate or credit them.

Examples of Cultural Appropriation

People who appropriate culture might use art, attire, customs, ideas, language, and makeup from other communities. For example, a designer might have models wear cornrows, said Moody-Ramirez.

"People have been wearing cornrows and dreadlocks for years. When you see it on the runway, all of a sudden, it's the greatest, latest fashion, and that designer invented it," said Moody-Ramirez.

On apps like TikTok, people show themselves doing choreographed dances and rollerblading routines created by people of other cultures without credit. People have called out those instances as examples of cultural appropriation. Other examples include wearing a bindi to a party or talking with a "blaccent."

"[The examples] go on and on and on, but it's ultimately about power and disrespect," said Lester.

Think twice before wearing a hairstyle or dancing on Instagram in a way that is traditional to another culture. Take a second to consider why you want to do what you're doing.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to tell whether you are appropriating another culture:

• Are you perpetuating stereotypes of other cultures?
• Are you using or taking another culture's attire or language and misusing it?
• Do your actions disrespect another culture?
• What emotions do you hope to invoke with your actions? Is it to be edgy or funny?

Do not do it if you think what you are about to do would be appropriating a culture. You can "try to make yourself educated [so] that you don't do it again" if you went ahead with something and it turned out to be cultural appropriation, said Lester.

Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation

The opposite of cultural appropriation is cultural appreciation, saidMoody-Ramirez. Cultural appreciation is celebrating or showing respect or honor for a culture.

Cultural appreciation might look like this: You receive an invite to a cultural celebration. The host asks you to join in the special occasion by dressing up and shares with you what the attire means. In that instance, it's possible to appreciate a culture without appropriating it.