Henna + Cultural Appropriation - Forum

Annie
National Star

Annie wrote:

Vuitton wrote:

Saudade wrote:
oh man yeah that pisses me off to the maaaaax B)

i'd also rather educate than give backlash, but it's very upsetting that people only seem to care about one culture and give backlash when they seem to be culturally appropriating that respective culture when other cultures matters just as much n have just as much deeply rooted history

i feel like this might be a controversial opinion to some. all cultures are beautiful and special in their own way, and nobody should be appropriating them but rather appreciating them for what they are and what they've contributed with to modern society

wait people wear ghutrahs? for fashion?

Saudade
National Star

Saudade wrote:

Vuitton wrote:

Saudade wrote:
oh man yeah that pisses me off to the maaaaax B)

i'd also rather educate than give backlash, but it's very upsetting that people only seem to care about one culture and give backlash when they seem to be culturally appropriating that respective culture when other cultures matters just as much n have just as much deeply rooted history

i feel like this might be a controversial opinion to some. all cultures are beautiful and special in their own way, and nobody should be appropriating them but rather appreciating them for what they are and what they've contributed with to modern society

Nah I totally get you, there are some people who will scream cultural appropriation about their culture but will turn around and steal from another. It is a two way street!

Saudade
National Star

Saudade wrote:

January wrote:
Would I be able to comment as a person who isn't arab/indian but has grown up in an arab country with arab relatives?

Absolutely! If you grew up there and have arab relatives then really it is your culture too !

BEWAREARTEMIS
National Star

BEWAREARTEMIS wrote:

Saudade wrote:

BEWAREARTEMIS wrote:

Saudade wrote:
Exactly this :-) I also think it should be respected ! I think what triggered me to do this post, is an article I saw about top 10 celebs who popularised henna and none of them were arab or indian :-L Shits only cool if westerners do it I guess

I'd personally would be a *little* frustrated; there should be celebs from the countries that have this culture in those articles, not people from other cultures.
It's cool if you want to try it out because it seems interesting, but do not take the light from other people who practice this because it's their culture

it just annoys me, because I grew up shying away from my culture because of bullying but then someone takes an aspect of it and people suddenly love it

Literally same. Used to get bullied for my roots, but I never hid who I was/am. Now everyone in my country is like "OMG thiz iz so kool!!!!!!!11!!"

Saudade
National Star

Saudade wrote:

MissLondon wrote:
How many people who are offended or feel like it's CA, take action tho? Are they stopping peeps wherever seen and voicing their opinion?
Probably not lol

I wouldn't attack someone for doing it because I know a lot of people aren't aware of it'a cultural significance! Everyone can ignore me and do it if they like I just want to educate people and maybe they'll appreciate it more

Saudade
National Star

Saudade wrote:

BEWAREARTEMIS wrote:

Saudade wrote:

BEWAREARTEMIS wrote:
I'd personally would be a *little* frustrated; there should be celebs from the countries that have this culture in those articles, not people from other cultures.
It's cool if you want to try it out because it seems interesting, but do not take the light from other people who practice this because it's their culture

it just annoys me, because I grew up shying away from my culture because of bullying but then someone takes an aspect of it and people suddenly love it

Literally same. Used to get bullied for my roots, but I never hid who I was/am. Now everyone in my country is like "OMG thiz iz so kool!!!!!!!11!!"

For a long time I felt ashamed for being Arab in a Muslim family but I never hated beeeeing Arab and Muslim if that makes sense? I felt the way I did because of how I was treated, so I hid it from people in hopes of them not ridiculing me but it still happened anyway oof

MissLondon
World Famous

MissLondon wrote:

Saudade wrote:

MissLondon wrote:
How many people who are offended or feel like it's CA, take action tho? Are they stopping peeps wherever seen and voicing their opinion?
Probably not lol

I wouldn't attack someone for doing it because I know a lot of people aren't aware of it'a cultural significance! Everyone can ignore me and do it if they like I just want to educate people and maybe they'll appreciate it more

I don't mean "attack" but talking and educating.

I'll be honest because if someone stopped me about anything I'm wearing, it's likely I'd curse them out.

BEWAREARTEMIS
National Star

BEWAREARTEMIS wrote:

Saudade wrote:

BEWAREARTEMIS wrote:

Saudade wrote:
it just annoys me, because I grew up shying away from my culture because of bullying but then someone takes an aspect of it and people suddenly love it

Literally same. Used to get bullied for my roots, but I never hid who I was/am. Now everyone in my country is like "OMG thiz iz so kool!!!!!!!11!!"

For a long time I felt ashamed for being Arab in a Muslim family but I never hated beeeeing Arab and Muslim if that makes sense? I felt the way I did because of how I was treated, so I hid it from people in hopes of them not ridiculing me but it still happened anyway oof

Yes, it makes sense to me.
I've been bullied mostly because I'm half latina, and people would mock my accent, my vocabulary, my looks, etc.. But now it's a trend to look like "a latin@"

Annie
National Star

Annie wrote:

Saudade wrote:

January wrote:
Would I be able to comment as a person who isn't arab/indian but has grown up in an arab country with arab relatives?

Absolutely! If you grew up there and have arab relatives then really it is your culture too !

I've always been welcome to use it by my step-relatives, my mom married my Saudi step-dad when I was 6 so I feel somewhat okay expressing my feelings on this. I've talked about it with my Indian, Pakistani, Saudi, and egyptian friends before in a stylistic/fashionable way (like about people wearing henna because they like how it looks) and they've never shown distaste for it, maybe because they are such a fan of it themselves they enjoy other people enjoying it. I completely understand people not liking others pick and choose from their culture but from what I've witnessed personally it's grown more as a stylistic choice. Here we get henna when we're bored and got nothing to do. There are the special moments and events where it's more traditional and cultural like weddings, but a lot is just for aesthetic purposes.

Saudade
National Star

Saudade wrote:

MissLondon wrote:

Saudade wrote:

MissLondon wrote:
How many people who are offended or feel like it's CA, take action tho? Are they stopping peeps wherever seen and voicing their opinion?
Probably not lol

I wouldn't attack someone for doing it because I know a lot of people aren't aware of it'a cultural significance! Everyone can ignore me and do it if they like I just want to educate people and maybe they'll appreciate it more

I don't mean "attack" but talking and educating.

I'll be honest because if someone stopped me about anything I'm wearing, it's likely I'd curse them out.

Oh man I wouldn't dare do it to a stranger I'd shit myself

Annie
National Star

Annie wrote:
I just asked my mom on her opinion:

"Oh yeah, they get excited! They force friends to get it cause they find it fun. They love people enjoying henna with them."

Saudade
National Star

Saudade wrote:

January wrote:

Saudade wrote:

January wrote:
Would I be able to comment as a person who isn't arab/indian but has grown up in an arab country with arab relatives?

Absolutely! If you grew up there and have arab relatives then really it is your culture too !

I've always been welcome to use it by my step-relatives, my mom married my Saudi step-dad when I was 6 so I feel somewhat okay expressing my feelings on this. I've talked about it with my Indian, Pakistani, Saudi, and egyptian friends before in a stylistic/fashionable way (like about people wearing henna because they like how it looks) and they've never shown distaste for it, maybe because they are such a fan of it themselves they enjoy other people enjoying it. I completely understand people not liking others pick and choose from their culture but from what I've witnessed personally it's grown more as a stylistic choice. Here we get henna when we're bored and got nothing to do. There are the special moments and events where it's more traditional and cultural like weddings, but a lot is just for aesthetic purposes.

& your friends are allowed to feel that its okay! What I'm gunna write is really just my own thoughts on it. I really don't mind people wearing it but as said above I think they need to know the significance of it and respect it first, in my opinion.

Annie
National Star

Annie wrote:
im honestly more shocked someone said people wear ghutrahs because it's fashionable

Annie
National Star

Annie wrote:

Saudade wrote:

January wrote:

Saudade wrote:
Absolutely! If you grew up there and have arab relatives then really it is your culture too !

I've always been welcome to use it by my step-relatives, my mom married my Saudi step-dad when I was 6 so I feel somewhat okay expressing my feelings on this. I've talked about it with my Indian, Pakistani, Saudi, and egyptian friends before in a stylistic/fashionable way (like about people wearing henna because they like how it looks) and they've never shown distaste for it, maybe because they are such a fan of it themselves they enjoy other people enjoying it. I completely understand people not liking others pick and choose from their culture but from what I've witnessed personally it's grown more as a stylistic choice. Here we get henna when we're bored and got nothing to do. There are the special moments and events where it's more traditional and cultural like weddings, but a lot is just for aesthetic purposes.

& your friends are allowed to feel that its okay! What I'm gunna write is really just my own thoughts on it. I really don't mind people wearing it but as said above I think they need to know the significance of it and respect it first, in my opinion.

Everyone feels different about these things

Laboratory
World Famous

Laboratory wrote:
what about ppl usin it 4 eyebrows tho is that uncool too