The Mix of Cultures: Cultural Appropriation

  What is cultural appropriation? It consists of the adoption of elements from one culture by another culture. The issue faced with this is how it can be offending in the sense that not all cultures visualize or use specific elements from other cultures in an appropriate manner. I enjoyed the cultural appropriation forum in particular because I could relate to it, growing up with three different cultures through my life.  I’m Indian, yet I was born and raised in England and then I moved to the United States. Someone mentioned the red dot and how some Indian women wear it on their head. Some people think of it as a fashion statement and wear it too. However, it is more of a religious symbol of Hinduism. Someone else in the group mentioned dream chasers and how people of non-Indian descent hang them up in their home without knowing the true symbolism behind its culture. Halloween is the time of the year which an create a huge issue regarding cultural appropriation. People dress up as people from other cultures and don't understand the significance behind it or whether it is inappropriate to dress that way. I think it’s extremely important that people understand the meaning behind certain things before using them and making their own conclusions. The only way to do this, as the forum group mentioned, is to educate friends and the community in general about your culture and the symbols that come with it.