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Can fashion be a form of exploitation when in the face of culture? Let's discuss.

Are you talking about what some people call culture appropriation?

I would think so at certain times. Definitely an interesting topic, can't wait for others' opinions.

Hi Nancy. Yes, I am talking about cultural appropriation. It is a hot topic. I was just watching a segment on a talk show about this days after writing the following piece: Yay or Nay to Cultural Wear

So far everytime I saw something about culture appropriation it was not the case, it was just people screaming these two words for nothing besides making trouble or/and being offended over nothing.

My message to people who keep saying culture appropriation is to be careful about it because if we would all go by that then it would mean that all of us would only be able to wear (clothes + hair + makeup + everything like that) what our race invented which maybe would mean that you could end up with not a lot to wear, this could also go with technology and everything else. So if you really are offended when other races is wearing something of your race then look at yourself to see if you yourself is doing the same thing and why in your case it is okay and not with the others!

Also let's say it is culture appropriation or something close to it, why does it have to be a bad thing? Why not be happy that another culture wants to copy yours or wants to use your culture?

Hi Nancy,

I think what you are referring to is admiration and appreciating elements of someone else's heritage. However, cultural appropriation is taking a culture's identity, for lack of a better word, and claiming it as your own, as in Rachel Dolezal's case. She took her admiration of black culture to an extreme by identifying as black and denying her own race.

There is a difference between the two concepts and people are offended by the latter.

Hi,

That is the woman who for years passed herself as a black woman which was not the case? If so then she has many issues! Didn't she finally admit to what she had done or is she still denying it? I do not think what she did was culture appropriation, she lived a life that was not hers yes and also it was a race that was not hers but still this is not the case. What she did was fraud and probably one or more crimes.