"People are trying to have fresh content. Thank you so much for this! I understand that other natives might have different opinions). I personally feel the response and the receptivity are often motivated by economics, especially in cases where large firms have borrowed designs without consultation and crediting the original makers. Someone outside the culture might not realise what the symbol means and perhaps would not call that person out in disgust for wearing itbut those from within the culture probably would. No one can stop you, but be prepared to get an earful for doing it. Jeff, I know you dont want to hear it, but I find a great deal of what you have to say logically flawed. Cookie Notice On one side, social media has pointed out celebrities or people that are appropriating a culture, while on the other hand, attempting to be popular can have people attempting a new style. What Is The Spiritual Meaning Of Waist Beads? It is entirely possible for Muslims to practice their religion inside Buddhist countries (under Buddhist governments) and they do, with large Muslim temples and communities found throughout places as diverse as Sri Lanka and Thailand; meanwhile, it is both illegal and impossible for Buddhists to practice their religion inside Saudi Arabia (and you can look at other examples of majority-Muslim countries on a case-by-case basis some of them just barely tolerate the existence of Buddhist temples, and some dont at all, etc.). Even though in some cultures women wore the beads as tools of seduction, it was exclusively meant for their husbands or lovers, only they were allowed to see the beads on their waist. Some argue that wearing waist chains is a way to express creativity and individuality, while others believe that it can be seen as a sign of cultural appreciation. Could you break down your name phonetically for me? to worry about what some chucklehead somewhere else thought about something. In most of our nations, women do not wear feather headdresses. Other cultures using elements from our culture, is a sign. The post But Why Cant I wear a Hipster Headdress? deals explicitly with the kinds of things youll see in the Hall of Shame. Ive found a few pairs I really like and I want to support a native artist, but I dont want to buy a pair if I cant wear them outside. It would be shameful. This definitely goes into my roster of links for the next time (and I know there will be a next time) someone asks me, But why cant I wear a feather? I think I may have recently been part of the misappropriation of the eagle feather. Anyway, unrelated question: Ive noticed a lot of posts on cultural appropriation mention to, if wanting to buy native-inspired clothing and accessories, buy from a native artisan. But until things change, and thoughtless (and even mean-spirited) appropriation is a fringe behaviour, this is something you may have to live with if you do not come from the culture you so admire. They believe that the waist beads were part of the demonic rituals performed in the past in African cultures. The science of fear:Why do some people love to be scared during Halloween? I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Not sure if that makes total sense but I tried. Moody-Ramirez said a good tool for parents to consider is to think about all the homes their child will knock on for trick-or-treating and if one homeowner would find their costume offensive. Fashion often highlights its admiration of culture through textiles first. Im not making a grandiose generalization here: Im arguing that theres a great deal to be learned from looking at specific instances, whereas the general category (e.g., respect for religion) is really misleading. The tag that ought to belong to us, and that ought to help us find each other, was being used by others, slapped insensitively onto images and ideas we actively dislike. Despite having originated from African cultures, the majority of African communities today see them as bad omens that promote witchcraft and prostitution. Are Waist Chains Cultural Appropriation? Cultural appropriation | Definition, History, Types, & Examples There are many reasons or meanings behind it. because of all the atrocities which have been committed as well Pontius pilates and the romans who are white which killed the Christian lord and whites then converted in 1100 bc e there is allot of tension as the Hebrew Israelites were not white at all.the jews of today are not the true descendants of Abraham they are colonys who came from Europe to Israel and are violating Palestinian rights and lands by settling there and building apartments.why doesnt Kerry and harper sanction them is beyond me. In Africa, waist beads have long been used as a sign of femininity, fertility, and beauty. Heres What To Wear in Toronto in January! A call for unity? The significance of the chains comes from their representation of femininity, fertility, and sexuality. Im sure you can think of many more of these symbols of military, humanitarian, academic, literary or what-have-you achievement. This appropriation on flimsy grounds of things outside the western culture being pretty and hence their entitlement, really sucks. To label twerking as cultural appropriation really cheapens the very real issue at hand of the cultural appropriation of something of value to an otherwise oppressed group. Thank you for the informative response. They achieved their purposeuntil the Internet came along and gradually the truth is surfacing and yes, the growing number of Hindus are enraged by what was done to them. What were you thinking? Get all the top news stories and alerts straight to your inbox. Some women wear waist beads to represent their cultural origins. OR claims that my talking about the appropriation of a white culture is just trying to demonstrate a point to negate my guilt for said privilege (Im also Irish Dublin Irish, not American Irish. Why or why not? Can I wear waist beads as a white person? Youre in my permanent list of artisans too . Today, these waist beads have adopted many purposes the main one being waist trainers. Wait around for the King of England to recognize them? In the 21st century, cultural appropriationlike globalizationisn't just inevitable; it's potentially positive. That leads to a second question to consider is tit for tat appropriation ever appropriate? I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Couturiers like Charles Frederick Worth, who revisited Renaissance costume stylings to create one of the most influential houses for women of the time, including Queen Victoria, set the tone for certain fashions, inspiring elements of what dressmakers and tailors would make for the masses. The root here is a disrespect for the value of other peoples insights, other perspectives, and other ways of seeing the world. I guess I can count myself as one of the well-meaning but bumbling white folk and this has helped to set me straight. If you are thinking of getting yourself a set but are unsure, our best advice to you is to do your research. Im currently on a weight loss journey and I think the physical reminder of how far Ive come and how far Ive left to go would be something very personal and enriching for me but of course I dont want to steal something from a different culture, especially if it would be considered disrespectful. Likewise my husbands (very fumbling) and my (somewhat fumbling) attempts to speak in Hindi were greeted very positively as a sign of respect. Im aware of some of these issues. However, it pays to be conscious about what kind of styles you . Many times appropriation occurs by borrowing textile design techniques, which is often not discussed, so teaching textile history from a social justice lens is important, said Delice. Answered! I address this difference right here in the article, it might be a good idea to read it. They represent various achievements made by the person who is presented with the feather. I know that the literal answer is yes, but I dont want to be disrespectful toward a time-honored tradition that I did not grow up in and am not a part of physically or spiritually. Nonetheless, my lack of any real connection to Indian cultures makes the entire thing awkward. Nadra Kareem Nittle is a journalist with bylines in The Atlantic, Vox, and The New York Times. On the one hand you think youre neutral and logical and somehow unmarked, while the religious folks are all marked and non-neutral. I would be uncomfortable wearing a sari. Ive spent the last few hours reading and commenting on articles and blog posts on cultural appropriation and this is without doubt the best post Ive seen. As a result, especially when we are uninformed and ignorant about what we are wearing, we are unaware of the potential harm we may be causing to communities and cultures. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide how they want to express themselves through fashion, but it is important to do so with respect and understanding of the culture from which it originated. They said that if a man slept with a woman wearing waist beads, they would end up leaving their wives. I dont want to offend anyone or denigrate the meaning of the necklace. Commonly made of glass, metal, crystals, gemstones, charms, wooden beads, or plastic beads, they are typically strung on cotton thread, twine, wire, clear cord, or elastic . Recently on tumblr, a platform I am still getting to know, there was a concerted effort made by aboriginal people to take back certain categories which were seen as misrepresenting indigenous culture. How it was a tradition that was passed down from grandmothers to the younger women. Just as dressing up as a Native American would be inappropriate for Halloween, its offensive to pile on pseudo-Native attire to get in touch with your inner hippie at a rock concert, especially when you know little about the clothings cultural significance. But they are nice. Yet, because I am pale I feel like others (other white people) would not approve of me wearing them and I would be seen not as needing to feel a connection to that part of my life but as imitating another culture to get attention. Why do some people love to be scared during Halloween? What Should Women Wear to a College Interview? Thank you! So much of the beauty of those sweaters is in how, and by whom, they are made. My heart is deeply for reconciliation with and restoration for my Indigenous neighbours and friends. An imbalance of power between the appropriator and the appropriated is a critical condition of the concept. It can offend people when people do this without making it clear . In some cultures, waist chains were even used as a form of currency. I cant tell you how much I appreciate this post. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Your email address will not be published. Although I think there are a lot more upper-class whites in the New Age groups than perhaps is thought check the prices of popular indian stuff on the west coast, for example. They believed that the strings of the beads were anchors that tied the menstrual tissue. I was just talking with a friend about where the line was. Yet while they were lauded, countless braid-wearing Black women like cashier Cheryl Tatum and telephone operator Sydney M. Boone faced negative responses . I was raised in Nova Scotia, in a small town called Antigonish. Let us discuss further to understand waist beads cultural appropriation and its . Thanks. However, now that Im back in the US I seldom wear my saris because, while they were just my day-to-day clothes in India, I was often perceived as wearing a costume in the US, which was not the impression I wanted to given. "It's the same kind of mindset of 'how far can I take my new freedom?'". They are also popular in African culture. But they are truly beautiful, arent they? We have been discussing is this is appropriate. I was actually asking about Greek because epic poetry comes from oral tradition and gets most of its conventions from there (although youre right, theres a shift in style with literacy and I should have been more clear I was thinking about the oral tradition), and I found the very different approaches to oral storytelling and the conventions around it interesting. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience.