Cultural appropriation?

[Xmassprout]

I bought some silks fans a little while ago to use for a portion of a dance routine. I've been looking online for inspiration and the vast majority of stuff I can see is connected to bellydancing.

After more investigating it seems that the fans didn't come from the origins of bellydancing but from other cultures. I've also seen that white women bellydancing is seen as cultural appropriation by many.

The routine I'm planning has no resemblance to belly dancing, the costume has no resemblance and hair and make up will be no resemblance. Would it still be cultural appropriation to use the fans?

Please don't jump on me!

IABU = don't use them, it's cultural appropriation
YANBU = use them as long as you're mindful

@TheKeatingFive thank you for that. So is it fair to say you think that what's broadly falls within "CA" does happen, but that labelling it as such does people from oppressed cultures a disservice, as it's not an easy term to define?

(I suppose "racism" is actually still a reasonably woolly term in that a fair amount of people hold that it's possible for people of dominant cultures to be on the receiving end, whilst others don't.)

@elodie77 So I think you're saying there that the CA term is useful as it helps broaden/deepen people's definition or understandng of racism?

Laquila What I am saying is that cultural appropriation is a form of racism and people have every right to call it out.

So is it fair to say you think that what's broadly falls within "CA" does happen, but that labelling it as such does people from oppressed cultures a disservice, as it's not an easy term to define?

Sort of

I think CA depends on two assumptions to make any sense. I have issues with both of them.

Firstly, that things can be 'owned' neatly by one culture. That's almost never the case. It's not how human culture works.

Secondly, that we can construct some sort of list of most oppressed to least oppressed cultures and work from there. That's also nonsensical.

Ultimately being inspired by and borrowing from other cultures is what humans have done since the dawn of time and a very positive thing. Putting limits on who can / can't do that does everyone a disservice.

The exception is when it's done to ridicule the culture, and ultimately I see that as racism (and yes what that is is open to interpretation). To lie about your connection with the culture for financial benefit is also wrong in my eyes, but that's fraud.

If you''re being racist, you're being racist. If you're being offensive, you're being offensive.

"Cultural appropriation" was invented by the ethno-bullies as a way try and shit on people that aren't being racist or offensive.

ethno-bullies

WOW

yeah, people that want to bully others on issues of ethnicity.

If we keep at heart - be kind to others - most of these issues can be sorted out peacefully. Our local Indians (I like in a borough with I think more hindus than anywhere in the UK) are perfectly happy with white women doing yoga. I suspect they don't mind people going to their events putting on a sari as some famous people have done in a sense from respect just as I was forced into Muslim head covering and clothing in Iran when there on business as that was the law and I was quite keen on not being locked up for life. Whereas some dressing up can look rude so is best avoided even if the law allows it.

I am very glad I live in a country however where we can read books written by or films of the ancient romans, the Koran, bible, monty python - however offensive those might be to some people.