Cultural Appropriation Essay

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Cultural appropriation has recently gained attention in the media due to the use and abuse of traditional dress as costumes and fashion statements. To clarify, cultural appropriation refers to the adoption of elements from a culture separate from one’s own. It is highly controversial and, unsurprisingly, many majority groups deny the existence of the practice entirely. To say that cultural appropriation is not a problem in today’s society is to reject the history and derivation of significant aspects of diverse lifestyles, such as styles of dress and traditions. Avoiding misappropriating cultures would involve immersing oneself in historical research, learning to recognize the struggles that minorities have faced as a whole, and appreciating …show more content…
This entails working towards understanding one’s cultural rather than abusing beautiful traditional dress and hairstyles to suit personal artistic desires. To enter a religious place of worship, dressed to suit the beliefs of the faith, is exhibiting cultural appreciation; it shows recognition for the ideologies that surround this culture and its common beliefs. With the resources that surround us, it is far from difficult to gain knowledge on this issue and to make internal improvements to demonstrate appreciation for the history and barriers that minorities have had to overcome to allow these cultural features to be accepted. While those who take offense to misappropriating acts are often viewed as “sensitive,” it is essential to consider the ignorant slurs that may be thrown their way simply for expressing their cultural preferences. If the motivation is to create a society connected through love for one another, then it is imperative to appreciate one another’s background — a concept that can be achieved through constant education and attempts at associating with members of different ethnic or religious
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