How To Explain Cultural Appropriation To Your Kids?

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Misunderstandings abound around the sensitive topic of cultural appropriation.

We are not constantly prepared with the precise words we need in the moment, just because we aren't always equipped to convey huge, hard themes to children. However, it is more important than ever for parents to educate themselves on this nuanced topic and have open conversations with their children.

Having open and age-appropriate conversations about race and country with your children can help them develop an appreciation for and understanding of people from different backgrounds. For parents concerned about how to broach the subject, I offer the following suggestions for explaining cultural appropriation to young people.

When people of a dominant culture utilise symbols, artefacts, or practises from a subordinate culture that erases or minimises the significance of the subordinate culture's history or contributions, this is called cultural appropriation. Thus, cultural appropriation is not a simple occurrence; it is multifaceted and complicated in ways that many individuals may not fully appreciate or even be aware they are engaging in.

As people of various origins contact with one another, a blending and merging of cultures may occur naturally. Country music is just one example of the amazing innovations and creations that have resulted from the blending of disparate cultural traditions.

However, things get tricky when a cultural majority leverages characteristics of a minority in a fashion that the minority sees as exploitative.

Defining Cultural Appropriation

To rewind a bit, how do we characterise cultural appropriation? Let's start by defining each word in the text and a few more that are crucial to grasp.

Culture

Everything related with a group of people, whether it be their race, religion, location, or social context, is said to be part of that group's culture. Examples of such things could be ideas, values, institutions, norms, rituals, ritual objects, language, beliefs, and conventions. Many people automatically associate culture with a specific people's background.

Appropriation

Taking anything that does not rightfully belong to you is called appropriation, and it most commonly occurs when a powerful group appropriates the property of a historically exploited or oppressed minority.

By this definition, appropriation implies a failure to recognise or acknowledge the significance of the background to the subject of the theft.

Cultural Denigration

When someone appropriates a part of another culture in order to mock or ridicule its members, they are engaging in cultural denigration. Blackface is the most blatant example of this; it was originally used to ridicule people of colour and suggest that they possessed negative attributes.

Cultural Appreciation & Respect

Appropriating aspects of another culture in an empathetic manner, with the goal of learning new things and broadening one's perspective, is the essence of cultural appreciation. Some ways in which this can be accomplished include taking a martial arts class with a trained instructor who can help you gain a deeper cultural understanding of the discipline, and eating Indian food at a real Indian restaurant. Cultural appreciation, when practised appropriately, can lead to the development of novel and interesting cultural hybrids.

Context of Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation can only be understood in its problematic context. You may still not consider thinking about wearing cornrows if you saw someone else doing it, but members of the historically oppressed group may view such a move as insulting to their ongoing struggles.

While this is only one example, the fact that America's racist past has been written into legislation means that relics of the past continue to exist today.

While a person of colour may face prejudice due to their hairstyle, you, as a member of the dominant group, can likely get away with adopting the same hairstyle, rendering it trendy without ever learning about the events that led to the creation of the do during the first place.

In these other words, you've joined the bandwagon of a great new trend without considering the feelings of others for whom it is more than just a passing fad.

Examples of Cultural Appropriation

Provide some instances of cultural appropriation. To begin, let's think about the things that are commonly appropriated from other cultures.

Artifacts of Intellectual Property
DanceSymbols of Faith
Decorations\sMedicine
Makeup\sHairstyle
Tattoos
Promoting health and well-being

Let's think about who exactly it is that Americans are appropriating cultures from. In this category, you can also find the following individuals and communities:

African Americans
Asian Americans
Hispanic Americans
Native Americans
How to Explain Cultural Appropriation to Your Kids

Common Examples of Cultural Appropriation

While the concept of cultural appropriation may seem simple, navigating it in practise can be more difficult. Society frequently does this without realising it, appropriating elements of minority cultures and thereby reinforcing damaging preconceptions. The following are typical instances of cultural appropriation:

Ethnic Holidays

Americans celebrate "Mexican independence" on May 5 by feasting on Mexican food and sipping margaritas, but in Mexico there is no such festival. Seriously.

St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving are two further examples of holidays that promote harmful stereotypes.

This doesn't mean you can't have any kind of holiday celebration; rather, it's a reminder to reflect on the meaning behind the celebrations you already plan to have with your loved ones and figure out how to do it in a way that doesn't offend anyone.

Costumes

Americans celebrate "Mexican independence" on May 5 by feasting on Mexican food and sipping margaritas, but in Mexico there is no such festival. Seriously.

St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving are two further examples of holidays that promote harmful stereotypes.

Hairstyles and Fashion

Images of celebrities appropriating aspects of foreign cultures, such as Kim Kardashian's cornrows or Katy Perry's geisha costumes, are everywhere these days.

However, when dominant civilisations acquire features of subordinate cultures, they can do so without compromising their own identity or past.

We have matured to the point that we can comprehend the complexities of topics like racism, discrimination, and the historical exploitation of minority cultures. However, because they lack such background knowledge, it can be difficult to explain to children why cultural imperialism is wrong and how it should be prevented.

Here is how to start the conversation your your child about cultural appropriation when confronted with an incident of it. We have a wide range of baby nursery furniture to help you create the perfect room for your baby. Initially, you should enquire as to the significance of this matter from their perspective.

Keep in mind that kids are learning by osmosis, so don't be surprised if they want to dress up like a character, maintain their hair in a certain style, or talk with an idiom they heard on TV.

They are taking in their surroundings and selecting relevant information.

They probably don't realise that their preference could be hurtful to others, so it's best not to just brush off a concept without at least asking them to explain why they care so much about it. Instead, focus on understanding their perspectives so you can build a productive discussion around them.

Let's talk about the background of that cultural artefact.

Share your knowledge with them if it's something you're interested in talking about. If not, then you should both go back and find out where it all started. Discuss the background of this cultural artefact and the people who created it in the most elementary words possible.

Provide Examples of Discrimination Against People of Other Cultures.

The idea that everyone must be treated equally is something kids quickly realise is not the reality. Honoring other people's traditions is an integral part of treating them with love and respect.

Don't be afraid to suggest other options.

Now that you've set the stage and emphasised the significance of being sensitive to various cultures, you can offer alternate recommendations for them to ponder.

Think of this as a chance to develop your skills.

One conversation on race and culture will not prepare kids for life's complexities. Many of us still have much to learn even when we reach adulthood. It's crucial that you set an example as a leader who is always willing to learn and develop personally. Doing so will help your kids develop empathy and a sense of community.

Justify your position that it serves to perpetuate preconceived notions. Companies that manufacture and sell culturally insensitive Halloween costumes contribute to the spread of negative stereotypes.

They profit on Indigenous peoples' culture either compensating the victims or making an effort to learn the meaning of the many symbols used by different groups.

This is how you should break it to your kid: To maximise profits, the firms producing these Halloween costumes completely disregard the distinctive characteristics of each Native American people. Look to Native American artists and craftspeople if you want to show your support for indigenous peoples and their customs

What Should You Do If Your Kid Wants to Share a Holiday from a Different Culture Than Your Own?

The dispute over whether it is acceptable to costume up as a man or creature from a different culture makes the issue of appropriateness more complex.

Isn't there a problem with, say, Disney characters? Thankfully, Disney has progressed through time to create characters of race like Moana, Sylvia, and Mulan to aspire to, and kids of all colours would obviously just want dress up as them.

White parents, on the other hand, can explain to their kids why that's a challenging call.

Characters like Moana have a deep cultural background, which means that dressing up like her on Halloween may unintentionally encourage a less enjoyable Halloween environment for neighborhood and classmates in colour.

There Must Be Communication With Our Children Regarding These Differences.

It's important to point out, especially to white children, that there is no shortage of white figures in popular culture to identify with.

A white youngster shouldn't dress like Moana for Halloween, according to an opinion piece, because "this isn't about throwing a damper on your girl's creativity; it's about showing sensitivity at anyone who isn't able to pick how the world at large weighs them up." However, there may be some grey areas in making this choice. For her, a store-bought Moana costume is fine if it doesn't require any more work

She has a problem with non-Polynesians who are ignorant of Polynesian culture and try to draw on tattoos or wear traditional Polynesian garb without understanding their importance.

The term "cultural appropriation" refers to the practise of stealing something from another culture and utilising it in a way it wasn't intended, usually for one's own amusement or hilarity, without acknowledging or respecting the object's original context.

How does popular culture engage in cultural appropriation?

Take a look at the suggestions below.

Rock' n' Roll

Although white artists "created" rock and roll in the '50s, Black musicians were instrumental in shaping the genre and were never given credit for their contributions.

Music industry executives favoured white artists over Black ones, lending credence to the argument that cultural appropriation disproportionately affects the culturally marginalised.

Sweat Lodge

Three people died while participating in James Arthur Ray's "sham sweat lodge" in 2011, and Ray was found guilty of negligent murder on three counts. This is the extreme case of adopting Native American practises without permission.

Voguing

Do you recall the '90s fad called 'voguing,' popularised by Madonna? The Black and Latinx populations in New York City are credited with creating the dancing style known as voguing, which originated in gay clubs. While Madonna is correct in asserting her right to free expression, the question of how many others still credit her with the invention of voguing remains unanswered.

A Guide to Identifying Cases of Cultural Appropriation

Need help determining whether an action constitutes cultural appropriation? Some questions to ponder in this predicament are as follows:

For what purpose are you carrying out this activity?
Do you want to be on the cutting edge of a fad or delve into a culture's past?
Do you intend to offend this person's cultural sensibilities, or do you mean no harm?
What exactly are you looking for in a cultural item you plan to buy?
Consider how the people of the culture whose customs you are violating might react to your actions.
Do the activities you want to undertake involve any stereotyping?
Is this a playful or irreverent use of a holy object?
Are you trying to pass off something from a long-ago civilisation as something modern?
Are you giving proper recognition to those that inspired you?
Would someone from the original culture be considered "cool" if they did what you're doing, or might they face discrimination?
Do you happen to be donning a culturally significant costume?
Are you choosing to follow a fad over considering the cultural value of a topic?

Think carefully about these issues and make an effort to be culturally sensitive if you borrow from another tradition. If you do something wrong and then realise it was wrong and want to fix it and sorry for it, that's fine.

Strategies for Refraining from Appropriation of Other Cultures

How do you avoid cultural appropriation? Below are some steps to take.

Start digging into your true intentions by asking yourself the questions up above.
It's better to give credit where credit is due than to pretend that something that originated in another culture is actually your own.
Before borrowing or adapting cultural components, it's important to first fully understand and appreciate those elements. Attend real events hosted by real people, learn from real people, and see real places.
Instead of purchasing things from large retailers that are meant to symbolise a culture, consider supporting local companies run by actual people of that culture.

Conclusion

Children benefit much from having honest and age-appropriate discussions with them about race and country. My advice for parents who are unsure of how to bring up the topic of cultural appropriation with their children is as follows. Cultural denigration occurs when someone uses elements of another culture to make fun of or insult its adherents. The most obvious instance of this is the use of blackface. Appropriate cultural appreciation practises can generate exciting new fusions of cultural traditions.

On May 5, Americans enjoy Mexican food and margaritas in honour of "Mexican independence," although this holiday is not recognised in Mexico. This is not an argument against celebrating the holidays, but rather an invitation to consider the deeper significance of the events we mark with joyous gatherings. Tell the story of how this cultural artefact came to be and who made it in the simplest terms. Explain why you think it helps to keep stereotypes alive. The term "cultural appropriation" refers to the act of borrowing elements of another culture for one's own use, without giving credit where credit is due or showing any appreciation for the cultural significance of the source.

In what ways does today's mainstream entertainment practise cultural appropriation? Check out the recommendations I've included down below. How can one prevent appropriation of other cultures? Here are the measures you should take. Think about how people from the society whose norms you are breaking would react.

Participate in authentic gatherings hosted by genuine hosts, gain insight from seasoned locals, and see the world as it truly exists. I prefer not to buy items from multinational corporations that are supposed to represent a specific culture.

Content Summary

The delicate issue of cultural appropriation is often misunderstood.
Children benefit much from having honest and age-appropriate discussions with them about race and country.
My advice for parents who are unsure of how to bring up the topic of cultural appropriation with their children is as follows.
Acknowledgement and respect for other cultures
The essence of cultural appreciation is adopting elements of another culture sympathetically, with the aim of learning new things and widening one's perspective.
Give some specific examples of this cultural appropriation.
Other examples of holidays that do this are St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving.
If you find yourself confronting your child with an instance of cultural appropriation, here is how to have a conversation with them about it.
Let's discuss the history of that piece of cultural property.
If you have information on a topic that interests you, feel free to share it with them.
This will aid in the growth of compassion and community spirit in your children.
Since Moana and other Disney princesses have rich cultural histories, dressing up as them for Halloween could unwittingly contribute to making the holiday less fun for people of colour in the surrounding community and among the student body.
For white kids in particular, it's crucial to stress that there is no shortage of positive white role models in today's mainstream culture.
Check out the recommendations I've included down below.
Strategies for Avoiding Cultural Appropriation