Cultural appropriation?

Question

Just for a little ethnic back story, I consider myself pretty ethnically mixed. My mother is Scandinavian for the most part and my father's family is Mediterranean, mostly Greek but he also has family from Morocco, Tunisia, and even Iran. I really enjoy middle eastern and Moroccan inspired art and design and part of that includes henna and mehndi. For those of you that don't know, "henna tattoos", as they're commonly known, are a part of not only the India culture but also the middle eastern and North African culture as well. I think it's a beautiful art form and I really enjoy making my own henna paste and doing free hand designs on both myself, my family, and my friends. The issue I face is this, I have a friend that doesn't think I should do henna. She tells me that it is cultural appropriation and its offensive. For the record, this girl is nearly 100% German complete with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyway, my whole point in this post is to ask a question: does she, as a white person, have any right to tell me, a person whom has ancestors from this culture, that I'm being offensive and shouldn't continue doing an artistic activity that I genuinely enjoy?

Answer

In my opinion it doesn't matter where youre from or what you look like, you do what you enjoy doing.. I'm not a damn clown but I can make a mean balloon animal!

Answer

I think it's your skin and you should do what you want. You getting a henna tattoo is in no way hurting anyone else. This CA stuff is really getting out of control, I got told in a mommy group I went to last Friday that my French braided hair was cultural appropriation. Oh and eating fried chicken is ca too apparently because black people learned to make it better first and then we stole it. Seriously, enough is just enough. Do what you want, give credit to the cultures that are due the credit, don't praise something when one culture does it and then dismiss the same thing when the culture it originated from does it and just live and let live.

Answer

I think if you are close to your middle eastern heritage, and are willing to properly research and practice the culture fully then it is not appropriation.

This is a guide you can measure yourself by and decide for yourself if you are appreciating or appropriating.

Answer

Henna comes from lots of cultures.

If you respect it and the cultures it comes from, I don't see a big problem with it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Answer

A lot of cultures practice henna. Not like you're walking around with a bindi mark on your forehead (I'm assuming) or dressing in sari's as everyday apparel. I think if you enjoy it as an art form then that's your decision. I don't think you have to defend yourself and your heritage. If it bothers you tell her your father is Mediterranean with a lot of middle eastern roots. I still don't think you have to explain though. I love to dance Salsa and Argentine Tango. I'm from Poland. I don't think I'm appropriating anything if I enjoy dancing a style from a different country.

Answer

I think wearing headdresses and henna to festivals to look hot is a good example of cultural appropriation. If you are familiar with henna and you like to create and educate people about it, it's not. I guess I get where she's coming from, but I think there's a difference between appropriation and respect. I hate to see certain cultures and their Traditions get lost because people feel they can't share them, but there is a way to experience a tradition and a way not to.

Answer

Not at all. She sounds like a damn nazi.  She's not very culturally sensitive is she. You need a new friend lol

Answer

No! Who cares! You're not making fun of the culture and traditions! I'm white and I LOVE cornrows! I've had them done a couple times. I think they look pretty and they look cool. I've always like them ever since I was a little kid. I'm not making fun of any culture in any way. I'm admiring it and in a way, im jealous that my ethnicity doesn't include cornrows. Most of my family is Scandinavian and German and I've grown up doing culturally traditional things for those places. I think that exploring other cultures is eye-opening and helps us learn and understand new things

Answer

I think most cultures actually enjoy people celebrating their traditions and art and food etc. That girl doesn't represent most people, and its annoying that np matter what you do or say you will offend someone but just keep doing what youre doing because its fun.

Answer

If it'd your heritage and culture, then it wouldn't be appropriation. It would be you sharing and expressing your culture.

Cultural appropriation?

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