Cultural Appropriation?

Question

So I just recently got a toe ring from my city's Art and Wine Festival, and started reading about the history of toe rings. I read that in India, many women and men wear toe rings to symbolize their marital status. I was wondering if by wearing the toe ring, I was appropriating Indian culture? 
I hope that I am not, and if I am, I'll stop wearing it.

Answer

Culture Approriation is completely irrelevant. It's why white people get bullied for having braids, and corn rows. It's why Muslims get punished or shunned for not wearing a hijab. It's why black people get poked at for relaxing their hair. You do what makes you happy. What you think suits you and your personality. I don't get angry or humiliated every time I see a different cultured person eat fish and chips? No, of course not! They want to eat it. Do I rant and rave when someone who isn't British - waves our flag? No. Rather than wondering whether it's appropriate or not. Maybe we should be flattered that other cultures are wearing, styling, eating, using items from our own culture. I think it's a much better way to look at it. Or we could be hostile about it. Just my opinion though, make of it what you will.

Answer

"Cultural appropriation" has to be the most rediculious thing the world has conjured up in years.

It's a ring. Who cares? If it makes you happy, wear it.

Answer

Hi, i am an indian living in india. India is a huge country and a mix of diverse cultures. Yes, in some castes in hindus we wear toe ring as a symbol of being married, along with other things like mangalsutra ( a black n golden necklace), bindi on forehead  and other things. But a lot of indian women in mordern culture dont wear toe rings, also a lot of young unmarried women wear it for fashion, it does not offend anyone.

The main purpose of wearing these things was according to our ancestors  because specific pressure points are pressed( like accupressure) and this toe ring helps the pressure points related to female reproductory organs, so they wear it after marriage.

Hope this answers ur question, pls feel free to wear it if u like😊

Answer

If it's cultural appropriation, then people of said culture need to stop selling these items and marketing them outside of their own culture. And should we ask the entirety of said culture, or just one person? Will you still judge and call it appropriation when my friend, who happens to be black, teaches me her amazing dance moves and I use them? What about the Hindu woman who has a booth at the local art fair doing henna tattoos? Or the stylist making money off adding extensions to white girls hair...

I don't understand how something can belong ONLY to a minority, but if someone were to scream about the reverse (a minority appropriating white culture) they would shunned. I can't even imagine walking into a club, and going up to every non-black person and telling them "don't do that, that's for blacks", I'd probably get the crap beat out of me by the nearest black person.

Answer

The only acceptable response would be from someone of that culture. They're the ones who get to decide.

Answer

This is what I don't like about this conversation. (Not you specifically OP it's sweet that you care). Really though wear your jewelry. Toe rings aren't exclusive to a single culture. I do think it's important to be conscious of being offensive, but there's no reason to get into a panic about everything we put on.

Here are my personal guidelines:
Is it mocking an aspect of a culture?
Is it specific to a religious or spiritual tradition I don't belong to?
If it's a handicraft item only related to a particular area was it made by someone outside the culture?

If I can say no to all of the above I go for it.

Answer

Just do you and you can't go wrong.

Answer

You create your own meaning for whatever you do or wear. Its good that you know our indian cultural meaning behind it but in sure you didnt buy with indian culture in mind and i highly doubt Indian people will stare at your toes and think "oh she is copying us" indians invented shampoo, pyjamma and many other everyday things we dont feel bad when people wash their hair or wear pyjamma so toe rings shouldnt bother us either

Answer

Every single thing we do has been adopted from another culture or time. I'm pretty PC, but this isn't something I worry about.

Answer

Specifically to the OP, lots and lots of things are appropriated from Indian culture. Yoga, for example. However you didn one further than most, and looked into the history. I feel like if more people cared about the history of things there would be more cultural exchange!:)

I suggest you don't ask glow if it's racist though, but someone of Indian decent?

That being said, I'd wear it until someone gives me a reason not to.

Cultural Appropriation?

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