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I Used to Think Cultural Appropriation Was "Wrong." Now, I'm Not So Sure.

11/23/2015

7 Comments

 
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More phones than people. 
It's a terrifying time to be a defender of free speech. Already, a university president, a college dean and a class president have succumbed to bullying by student protestors for the crimes of a well-meaning but poorly-worded email, and appearing in a photo with two "cultural appropriators," and...? (It's still not 100% clear what the Mizzou president did wrong.) And today, I learned of another victim of the free speech/cultural appropriation movement: yoga. 
Soon, if Amherst students have their way, all students who have supported free speech will be subject to disciplinary action and forced to endure "extensive racial sensitivity training." (Who cares if the posters they made had nothing to do with race?)

​In response to the unfolding events, I published When Did Colleges Become Preschools? Why Yale Students Need to Stop Bitching About Halloween Costumes, This Video Shows Everything That's Wrong With "Safe Space" Protests and Why I Dressed as Microaggressions For Halloween. After each post, I've had interesting and thought-provoking discussions with several people who disagree with me -- and I can genuinely say that I admire their civil and respectful approach. It's admirable that they can discuss something so personal and close to their hearts with such open minds.

In many ways, these discussions have shaped and softened my stance on some of the issues. I believe, for example, that the pain many of these students feel is very real to them -- that they aren't all just "looking for something to be offended by."

But in other ways, they've led me to question my own blind compliance with political correctness. If you'd asked me, going into October, if it's okay to wear a headdress or a bindi, I would have said no. "You're not allowed to wear clothes or hair styles from other cultures -- that's cultural appropriation, and it's wrong." After all, as Franchesca Ramsey so eloquently explains:
But if you asked me right now, today, I would say, "You know... I think it's fine. Some people might find it offensive, but others won't notice or care. Still others will be thrilled to see you honoring their culture -- or happy that you've chosen to buy their art/beadwork/crafts from them. Your appreciation of their culture provides a livelihood, a supplemental income, or a means to keep their traditions alive."

Not to mention... the whole "cultural appropriation" thing is getting out of hand. Today, the Washington Post reported that the University of Ottowa has decided to top teaching yoga classes -- even ones specially designed for the physically disabled. Why? It's "insensitive." It's "cultural appropriation." 
Yoga comes from India, once a British colony. And now, at one Canadian university, a yoga class designed to include disabled students has been canceled after concerns the practice was taken from a culture that “experienced oppression, cultural genocide and diasporas due to colonialism and western supremacy,” according to the group that once sponsored it.

In a telephone interview with The Washington Post, Jennifer Scharf, who taught the class for up to 60 people at the University of Ottawa, said she was unhappy about the decision, but accepted it.

“This particular class was intro to beginners’ yoga because I’m very sensitive to this issue,” she said. “I would never want anyone to think I was making some sort of spiritual claim other than the pure joy of being human that belongs to everyone free of religion.
If I could talk to the pathetic little group that got this wonderful, inclusive yoga class banned ("Sorry, disabled people! Go find your OWN way to stay healthy! Because, you know, your people have never been oppressed!"), I would tell them to suck it -- to toughen the fuck up! -- and that they are terrible human beings. Because they are. 

Or, for another example, I was recently faced with a little "ethical" dilemma. See, my brother (who is white) has been living in China for about four years. He is dating a Chinese woman named Eva. Each time they come to the States, they bring me Chinese fans, Chinese candy, Chinese board games and Chinese clothing. They're gorgeous! 

Today, I wanted to wear one of the dresses they gave me. I was delighted when I put it on -- it's so pretty! Yet I was nervous leaving the house in something that was vaguely Chinese-looking -- especially because it had two peacock feathers on the drawstring! Given all the hyper-sensitivity and outrage that's been going around this month, I couldn't help but wonder if I might also piss off Native Americans. I mean, it wasn't a headdress. But it did have feathers... 

According to cultural appropriation, I shouldn't be allowed to wear the Chinese dresses my brother and his girlfriend gave me. Right? Or maybe I am... but only... when Andrew and Eva are in town? Because then it counts as a "cultural exchange"?

But after everything I've read this month, I've come to a new conclusion: that these protestors condemn a basic constitutional right. The only voice they care about -- the only voice they think has a "right" to be heard -- is their own. They don't care if others in their group agree with them (one minority student reported being called a "traitor" for attending a free speech conference at Yale). They don't care if others in other groups agree with them. They think I shouldn't be allowed to write poems about free speech, and they don't think I should be allowed to wear the dress my own brother gave me.

To that I respectfully say, "Fuck you." You don't get to decide when, where and how I can enjoy the gifts given to me by my brother, whom I only see once every two or three years. They mean one thing to you. They mean something completely different to me. You don't get to decide whether a white boy (whose godparents are Costa Rican, and who grew up in Costa Rica) is allowed to call soccer "futbol." You don't get to demand that I resign from my job, just because you didn't like my word choice or disagreed with my opinion about affirmative action. 

So I did it. I wore the dress. And you know what happened? 

Nothing. No one broke down sobbing when they saw me. No one's existence was erased because of my outfit. And! At the end of the day, I met with one of my students, whose mother is from China. When she saw me, her whole face lit up, and she exclaimed, "Your dress is so beautiful! I love it! It is SO beautiful!" Almost as though, instead of finding it unforgivably offensive, she found joy in seeing a style that reminded her so much of home. 

In her infamous Halloween email, Erika Christakis and her husband suggested to students that if they see a costume they found offensive, they had the option of either ignoring it (remember when you were seven, and your little brother used to stick his fingers in your face to be obnoxious, and your mom would advise you, "Just ignore him!") or telling the person they're bothering you. People got all upset about this -- in the protestors' own words:
We were told to meet the offensive parties head on, without suggesting any modes or means to facilitate these discussions to promote understanding.
Modes or means to facilitate these discussions? What are you, two years old? How about you just... you know. Use your words.

"Hey, just so you know, a lot of Mexicans would be upset by your costume -- it seems like you're making fun of stereotypes, instead of celebrating the culture."

"I'd be interested to know why you picked that particular costume."

"Did you happen to see the Multicultural Club's posters about why cultures make bad costumes?"

"I was a terrible history student, so I don't blame you for not knowing this, but blackface is actually pretty offensive. It used to be used in minstrel shows to make fun of black people -- and was used in film to make white people 'look black' so they wouldn't have to hire black actors. I love Nicki Minaj, and you clearly put a lot of work into your costume... but I think a lot of people would feel more comfortable if you washed off your face."

(Because there is a 99% chance these people have no idea they're doing something that you subjectively find hurtful or offensive. Most people are not overtly, explicitly racist. They aren't wearing that sombrero to oppress you.) 

 Well, to be fair, I guess those weren't just words. They were words that embody some basic communication skills that are extremely valuable, both socially and professionally. These include:

Face saving. Instead of "calling out" someone's racist intentions, give them a chance to acknowledge and accept your message without making them feel like they're being attacked or putting them on the defensive.

Reframing. Similar to face saving... but with tangible benefits to you. According to decades of psychology research (as well as personal experience), the vast, vast majority of the time people are doing something that bothers you, they have no idea it's bothering you. So instead of looking at someone taking a yoga class and assuming that they must be doing that to erase your existence and demean you... practice cognitive reframing. 

Instead of thinking, "She's racist for appropriating our culture," try thinking:

"Maybe her parents work for the government, and she grew up in Mexico."
"Maybe she just got back from a trip to Trinidad, and she she can't stop thinking about her trip."
"Maybe she doesn't understand that people like me would find that hurtful."
"Maybe she thinks it's beautiful -- and that's fine. She's not hurting me, and she has a constitutional right to wear whatever she wants."

Instead of thinking, "He could never understand my pain or experience because he's white," try thinking:

"Just because he's white, doesn't mean he was never bullied or judged based on how he looked."
"90% of disabilities are invisible."
"His living grandfather could be a holocaust survivor who lost everything while he was in a concentration camp."
"I wonder if he's ever felt unwelcome or unsafe in school after seeing a swastika carved into a desk."
"For all I know, he was kicked out of Catholic school for bringing his boyfriend to prom."

Because, guess what? You don't know. You don't know anything about this person -- except that, statistically, they probably are not intentionally trying to upset you. And that lots of people in your group would be totally okay with what the person is doing. Telling yourself that your experience is automatically worse than theirs, and they automatically have a better life than you, free of struggles and hardship... Well, that's just ignorant.

And, you know what? I'm not the only person who feels this way. Facebook recently suggested that I attend the Embassy Meeting of Minds "Cultural Appropriation" - Is It Always a Bad Thing for Society talk. According to their event page:
"Cultural appropriation is a sociological concept which views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as a largely negative phenomenon. This is largely seen to be the case when it is the aspects of an oppressed culture that is being adopted by another less oppressed culture”.

It’s common to see blanket arguments against cultural appropriation. But does anyone really have the right to own an idea? What are the actual harms that certain forms of cultural appropriation can leave on oppressed or minority groups, and might there be forms of cultural appropriation that are less bad than others? In fact, is there a valid argument for supporting cultural or racial appropriation? If we accept transgender culture why are we so disturbed by transracial movements? What are the moral motives underlying these asymmetrical norms?
(The discussion, for those interested, is on Thursday, January 14, at 8pm.)

Anyway. Long story short, I think that you are entitled to your feelings and opinions and experiences. You should feel free to express them -- here, on my blog (I love a good conversation, and, unlike Everyday Feminism, I won't delete your comments unless you are a bully or a spammer), or in your local newspaper, or on your own blog (I use Weebly, which is a great platform for new bloggers).

But I am also entitled to my opinions. I would never overtly threaten or oppress someone, but I have the right to decide what I wear, what music I listen to (or perform), what I eat and how I want to exercise. I believe that cognitive and communication skills like reframing are important, and that the healthiest thing you can be is present and mindful. Instead of protesting yoga because of colonialism, which is going to make people think you're a hysterical crybully... why don't you develop a research-based (rather than emotions-based) opinion about how to improve education for minorities -- and then take action? Did you actually improve anyone's life by getting rid of yoga (or sombreros, or whatever)? Or do you think your group would have been better served by empowering and preparing people in your group by, oh, I dunno. Off the top of my head:
​
  • Encouraging the administration to replace introductory-level lectures with smaller sections, since lectures help white students more than students of color
  • Developing some quick self-affirmation exercises for students of color (or even all students) to complete during orientation -- thereby closing the achievement gap, increasing their GPAs, number of emails sent to professors per week, and decreasing dropout rates
  • Recruiting gifted students of color to volunteer in preschools near you -- research shows that the best possible way to close the achievement gap is through early childhood education and positive role models
  • Organizing a free (or low-cost) summer program for minority students near you -- since research also shows that differences in academic achievement are almost exclusively due to differences in summer learning. This would be an amazing way to level the playing field and have an impact on the next generation -- while helping you develop amazing skills in management, fundraising, sales, marketing and more
  • Picketing outside of football games -- high school, college and professional football are exploitative, and the boys and men who play put themselves at risk for a horrible and early death -- plus, according to former Stanford student and current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, there is a lot of pressure for student-athletes to see themselves as athletes first, and then students
  • Petitioning top companies to explicitly recruit students of color for jobs and internships
  • Something else (leave a comment!)

Let's focus on embracing cultural exchange, so we can work together to make changes that really matter. 
23 Pairs of Chromosomes. One Unique You. Get your DNA story at 23andMe.com.
7 Comments
Michael Moldenhauer
12/12/2015 01:01:26 am

Intriguing piece. I would think something similar, but maybe not quite, after much reading and evaluating and _listening_ to opinions of others on all sides of this. As they said so much, they want people to LISTEN, and so that's what I did, listened to a lot, from a lot of different people, with a basic presumption that most of them are honest about their experiences. And the conclusions I've come to are:

1. The members of "minority group X" do not all speak with one voice. In fact, people I've heard things from who are involved with "anti-racism" efforts, which often involve questions of cultural appropriation, say as much. We cannot reduce a group to one thing. This means that what one person may find objectionable, another may not.

2. We should keep an open mind, which means if someone tells us that we are doing something wrong, we should listen and try to understand why they think that, and never ever just react to it with an equal and opposite reaction. No "You called me racist! Gaah! I was bullied blah blah blah". The fact that most of us do not know we are bothering someone with what we do cuts both ways and is all the more reason to take that person seriously, not defensively, and listen. How many more could we have bothered by it and we just didn't realize or they never spoke up? On the other hand, we shouldn't just say "OK forget it let's ban it all now!" either. Why not try a simple "OK, you think this is racist. Can you tell me what's wrong with it?". Indicate you're listening. If they are too stubborn to talk rationally though then of course we probably will have to leave. And as suggested by point 1, you also shouldn't let yourself generalize and think the rest of the group is going to have the same attitude, like "gee, X people are such whiners" or whatever (I'm not saying you are doing that, I am just pointing out an example to illustrate my own position here). Once you do that, you are definitely a racist.

3. Coming back to point 1 some more, you cannot also generalize from that person's experience to say everyone else in the group has experienced things the same way, either. It's just something you have to take into account into your thinking process, which should be kept flexible and non-presumptive, meaning you never presume you are in a better position than anyone else. Returning to respectability, I tend to think that if someone of the culture gifts you something, then that tends to make it less appropriation.

4. There is also a world of difference between using the gifted Chinese items in a nice manner, and say Miley Cyrus taking venerated Native American symbols and turning mock versions of them into sex fetishes, or whatever she does. The latter is wrong, and it would also be wrong to deny the gift items "'cuz cultural appropriation".

Cultural appropriation is a sticky wicket, and the best response to things like it is to just keep on listening, integrating, and your views flowing and evolving in a non-presumptive manner. It's not a black-and-white (pun not intended) issue and it should never be treated as such.

Reply
http://www.inramstechnology.com/career/5-tips-nurture-inner-business-person/ link
6/12/2016 11:04:40 am

I must say i appreciate your stopping into read this post , and especially for taking the right time to discuss your ideas and experience with us .

Reply
Chris Roger link
8/26/2016 11:33:19 pm

today phones are necessary part of life. yeah there is more phones then people on earth now.

Reply
Chris
10/4/2016 08:55:11 am

90% of cultural appropriation complaints strike me as either absurd or downright wrongheaded. These are often the same people who complain about the ubiquitousness of white culture. This creates not just an assymetry in terms of numbers, but also intent. White culture (distinct from its ethnic components, though they too tend to have a similar philosophy) has no problem impressing itself upon others, or being adopted by others. And the solution is supposed to be to make sure no influence flows in the other direction? That's so mind-bogglingly stupid it scarcely deserves consideration.

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Eric
10/25/2016 10:34:35 am

All good points.

One thing that strikes me about the censorious authoritarian left and the discourse it has rammed forward on this and various other topics (freedom of speech and expression, sexual consent, trigger warnings, the trans discourse and identity politics in general, etc.) is the erasure of gray areas and middle grounds. That is, they have had the effect of polarizing these concepts into one of two groups: 1) Acceptable, right, good, righteous, should be protected at all costs versus, 2) Unacceptable, bad, oppressive, should be banned altogether, serious legal sanctions should follow.

There is no more middle ground. It is no longer the case that there can be a legitimate compromise, or conduct which is regarded as maybe provocative or not nice, but still legal and tolerated. Everything has to be either right or else it should be banned. Any harm, no matter how trumped up, subjective, avoidable, or minor, if it can be framed as a grievance by a class of people we care about (i.e. anyone other than white men), needs to be addressed with extreme prejudice. This cultural appropriation nonsense appears to be more of the same. It is a totally self-serving concept for the outrage crowd and ultimately damaging and unproductive for everyone. No one is made better by Yoga or sushi being banned.

Reply
Zeph
3/5/2017 08:26:22 pm

Points well taken. Good comments, too.

I share your (implied) preferential focus on actions with potential substantial impact on real world problems - based on what can really improve lives.

Much of the PC approach, including the extreme sensitivity about cultural appropriation, seems very related to the (hopefully fading) concept that we can improve the self-esteem (and subsequent sucess) of kids by lavishing praise wholesale - trophies for showing up. Serious academics may never have bought into that, but it really was a trend in the popular culture. The idea that we will truly help a culture achieve (what?) by avoiding yoga or chinese dresses should be treated as a testable hypothesis, rather than a foregone conclusion.

Allowing the activist subset of a cultural group to cause a subset of the majority culture to jump through hoops on cue, about such things, is a false sort of empowerment. That is, it may give the self-appointed representatives of some group a lot of satisfaction to make others feel guilty, or to ban them (eg: yoga), but this is a booby-prize and a distraction from real world gains. I suspect that it doesn't really reduce, say unconscious bias in hiring, it makes the "protected" group seem more "other" and more dangerous to hire. And it's the kind of "power over others" that evaporates if an individual loses their victim status, so there is a built-in incentive to avoid real empowerment or robustness.

I think we could try PC tactics for a few generations, and at best we'd likely have made no real advances in changing the real circumstances of the less empowered - while fanning resentments and stimulating a political backlash.

So yes - your alternative suggestions are a much better approach. The common factor is that you are trying to increase the access or empowerment of the less empowered, in preference to guilt tripping the mainstream and hoping somehow that will create a more just and egalitarian world.

Reply
huis te koop Spanje link
7/26/2017 02:12:29 am

"Imagine if it were a man being touched like that, he wouldn't think twice about a 'What the fuck, man??"'

Actually, that's not true. Men are humans too and I know plenty of men who don't know how to respond instantly to offensive actions. (for instance if someone grabs something from them). Some men are shy, and some men are loud. Simple as that.

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