How to Call Out Cultural Appropriation: My Proposed Solution

Last updated on: December 14, 2016 at 4:00 pm by Ambaa Choate

How to Call Out Cultural Appropriation: My Proposed Solution 2016-12-14T16:00:21-05:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The article I talked about earlier made me start thinking in a slightly new way. As people of all kinds are being more and more encouraged to express what they’re feeling we have several articles about how it can be distressing to see non-Indian people using symbols and accessories from Hindu and/or Indian culture. And that’s great. I want to hear what people are thinking and feeling.

The issue I keep having with these articles is that they are very surface level, a black-and-white, simplistic view. It usually comes down to “Only Indian people can do this and when others do it it’s because they want to look cool or exotic or fashionable.” That may often be the case but it leaves out non-Indian Hindus. I might change it to “only Hindus can do this.”

And how do you know if someone is Hindu or is just playing with a culture?

I’ve had a thought about that.

Let’s say you see a white girl wearing a bindi and you think you should probably call her out about misappropriation. What if you said to her, “Oh, you’re Hindu? That’s awesome. Me too!”

Then she’ll either be happy to talk to you about being Hindu and how awesome it is or she’ll say, “No, I’m not” and you say, “Oh, well, you’re wearing a bindi so I naturally assumed you must be Hindu.”

I like the idea of this approach because it’s not assuming someone isn’t Hindu but also drives home the point that these are Hindu symbols. What do you think?

Inside the Life

cultural appropriation

cultural misappropriation

Previous Post

December 14, 2016

11 South Asian Accessories and What They Really Mean--a reaction

Next Post

December 15, 2016 Taking the Christ out of Christmas

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What book famously concludes with God's compassion for a foreign city?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joel Micah Amos Jonah