Costumes and Cultural Appropriation
Submitted by Michelle Ewton
A non-Japanese person walks into a Halloween party wearing a kimono. Before putting the garment on, they’ve done their research. They’ve learned the cultural significance of the kimono, and have grown a new respect for it. That person makes sure to get all of the features right in order to feel authentic. Is this person committing cultural appropriation? Or a case of cultural appreciation? Well, it’s complicated.
What is cultural appropriation?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, cultural appropriation is “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” Simply put, it’s when someone takes something from another culture and uses it inappropriately.
One of the most known forms of cultural appropriation is blackface, when someone purposefully darkens the skin tone of their face. This in particular is never okay, not for any purpose. While blackface is very clearly cultural appropriation, other things might be hard to decipher whether it is or is not, and people tend to have different opinions.
In early August, there was an Asian woman who went viral on Tiktok. She explained why she believes that wearing clothes from other cultures is not cultural appropriation, but instead should be encouraged. There have been a lot of people replying to the video, taking both sides of the argument.
Wearing another culture’s clothes ISN’T cultural appropriation.
Going back to the example at the top, some people would say that it isn’t cultural appropriation. The person in the example is clearly showing that they respect the culture and it doesn’t seem like they are sexualizing Asians by making massive alterations to the kimono. It’s Halloween and it’s flattering that someone likes Japanese culture enough to go through the process of getting a kimono and showing it to other people. Sometimes people act as gatekeepers, saying that someone shouldn’t wear something because it is “culturally sensitive,” when they should be more open-minded. Culture is meant to be shared with others around them, and one way of doing that is through fashion. If we don’t share our culture with others, then we will isolate ourselves from others around us.
Wearing another culture’s clothes IS cultural appropriation.
On the other hand, some people would argue that this is cultural appropriation. Living in the United States as an Asian American is difficult. In very recent history, Asian Americans were made fun of for their cultural background, food, clothes, ect. by other Americans. Suddenly, Americans want to wear qipaos and kimonos, but not that long ago there was the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese internment camps. Even right now, Asian Americans are being hate crimed on the streets because of COVID-19. To take the culture, but to hate the people behind that culture is unacceptable. When Americans have taught Asian Americans to hate their cultural background, they should not turn around and monetize that very same culture. You have to love both the people and the culture, you can’t take one and disregard the other.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t cultural appropriation.
Then there are people in the middle who don’t have strong opinions either way. They appreciate that this person outside of their culture put in the time and effort to honor Japanese Americans, but they feel uncomfortable. Maybe the feeling of discomfort is from an outsider wearing something that you want to wear too, but feel that you would be ostracized for doing so given the Eurocentric beauty standards in the United States. It’s Halloween though, and the point of it is to wear something that you normally wouldn’t. While you’re not completely onboard with another person borrowing your culture, you’re not against it either.
People can have different opinions on this, and that’s completely fine. The world looks different from another person’s perspective because of their own past experiences.
While this example is very complex as to whether or not a person wearing a kimono is committing cultural appropriation, there are behaviors that are black and white. One is a person not knowing what they are wearing. If they say that they are wearing a Korean hanbok but are instead wearing a Vietnamese ao dai, then that is a major red flag. That person very obviously did not even take the time to research what they bought. Then there are people who put chopsticks in their hair, which American media has made people think is normal. Chopsticks in your hair are not a part of any Asian culture. Hair sticks are made to be placed in your hair, chopsticks are made for eating.
Wearing clothes from other cultures can be scary because the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation is sometimes unclear. If you are unsure about something, then do the research. Even if there are conflicting opinions, that gives you a chance to think about if you really want to do it or not. Having doubts is not good. If you are going to wear someone else’s culture, then have confidence in yourself and make sure to honor that culture.
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