Do You Appropriate or Admire Other Cultures?
Without respect, there can be no appreciation.
Borikén, a soil in my blood. Whose winds carry songs of struggle and joy, sorrow and triumph. My ancestral motherland, I protect and honor you always.
~ Author
Soaking up different cultures, meeting new people, and learning about different customs are among the beauties of travel. But what happens when we end up partaking in cultural appropriation instead of admiring and enjoying it?
If we are to travel responsibly, then awareness, education, and reflection are crucial. We must hold ourselves (and others) accountable before, during, and after these global treks.
A Matter of Interpretation
Urban dictionary defines cultural appropriation as:
the act of taking customs, practices, or traditions from one culture (usually by a member of a dominant culture) to either mock or simplify the meaning or significance of that piece of culture. [And]
taking/wearing something from another culture and appreciating it only when it is not on the body of a member of that culture.
Social anxiety expert Arlin Cuncic shares thoughts on cultural appropriation in this Very Well Mind article: “[It] refers to the use of objects or elements…
