Do you think it’s wrong for a white woman to get dreads or braids?

Jo

Jo

I’m talking about braids that black women would normally wear. Like the braids Kim K just got. People are calling it cultural appropriation. But I’m not sure how I feel about it. I think if you can pull it off go for it. I don’t see why we should separate things. What do you guys think?

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714 views • 1 upvote • 23 comments

COMMENT (23)

Ch

Posted at
Ppl are calling Kim K out for culture appropriation bc these braids she got these braids :And then she called them "Bo Derek braids"... If you don't know who that is, this is herSee that ⬆ That is a white woman. These braids came from black culture, and they already have a name. They are called fulani braids or corn rows even. She just erased our culture a little bit more by renaming them after a white woman. If she wants to rock them, give credit where credit is due. Black woman have been rocking this style forever now, but it's trendy on white women and then gets named something else. And this is coming from someone who likes Kim K, but I'm really continuously disappointed in her for stuff like this. Plus when we braid our hair, it's more of a way to wear a protective style, seems pointless and odd that white ppl would want to do these styles anyway. It doesn't suit their hair. These⬇ are fulani, not no damn "Bo Derek braids" foh 🙄

La

Posted at
I think it’s wrong for them to call the something other than what they are, try to take credit for them, or bully those whose cultures created those styles. If they are respectful of its origin and a nice person, I see no problem with it. Most white people don’t look good with “black” hair styles. (Also please correct me if I used the wrong name for these styles, I couldn’t think of it and I hope this term is not offensive )

La

Lainey • Jan 30, 2018
Thank you!

üw

üwa • Jan 30, 2018
You did good 😁

Ka

Posted at
meant to click yes. it's problematic because a white woman can wear these styles as a trend without any of the negative social connotations that they bring to a woman of color. it's an exercise of her privledge.

Ka

Kathryn • Jan 30, 2018
exactly. What a lot of people don't seem to get is saying someone is exercising white privledge doesn't mean they are deliberately doing so. I'm not saying every white person who's worn Fulani braids or Bantu knots is deliberately flaunting their privledge, but that's part of the problem. a white woman's ability to do literally anything she wants with her hair free of deep social implications IS privledge. her ability to ignore her own privledge is privledge. acknowledgment is the first step. I think a lot of women like the Kardashian in particular who are with black men feel somehow more entitled to do these things, like beings with a PIC gives you a free pass, when it should really be the opposite. she has zero excuse to not be aware and active as an ally. my husband is from Kenya, that doesn't somehow give me a right to his culture. my son's are black, but I'll still only every be an observer to their experience as black men. they rock their curle5, doesn't mean I'm going out for a permed out puff

Ch

CherBear 🐻 • Jan 30, 2018
It is white privilege. Getting called trendy and stylish with the same hairstyle I wear, while I get called ghetto, unprofessional, "hood" etc. Then as Kim K did, naming our hairstyles something else to make them seem new. She actually called these braids "Bo Derek braids". Those are called fulani braids. Same thing has happened with bantu knots getting renamed "min buns".... It is white privilege.

An

Angela • Jan 30, 2018
wearing braids doesn’t automatically mean your “exercising white privilege” 🤦🏼‍♀️ maybe someone just likes and wants to try it.

🐼

Posted at
Coming from a black girl: Hair is hair. People need to leave people alone. If that what they want and they look good then who cares! Humans make to much issue out of unimportant things.

🐼

🐼パ • Feb 1, 2018
Why do you feel the need to include you are black?

An

Angela • Jan 30, 2018
🙌🏻 amen!

Sw

Posted at
Why would it be “wrong?”

🐼

Posted at
It’s not wrong so to say. But white women have a lack of knowledge concerning these hair styles and also have a bad habit of naming them something they aren’t. White women seem to be doing it to be edgy or trendy. I’m not going to waste my time and explain how this is cultural appropriation so don’t ask me to. Plus these styles almost never look right because white peoples hair texture is much different. But do what y’all want to do. You do it anyway.

Sj

Posted at
It's wrong because they are doing it to be trendy, knowing that they can leave the house and not be treated badly simply for the hairstyle. They don't have to consider whether or not they will be followed in a store, or assumed to be poor because of it. Certain hairstyles were created to manage specific types of hair. That said, if you are white or white appearing but have this type of hair that requires those protective styles, then use it, but when people ask you about it, don't lie about its origins.

SC

Posted at
I don’t understand why is this such a big deal. Of course its not racist. Why would it be?Its hair. Simple as that. I can shave it. Cut it. Braid it. Its my hair, i can do whatever the hell i want. My daughter’s hair is braided every single day because she wants to. Because she likes it and to be honest i dont give a damn if someone feels insulted by the style she is into.

el

Posted at
It’s not wrong, it’s not racist. Everyone wear what you want on YOUR hair. Why people feel the need to get validation from strangers about a hairstyle is beyond me 🤦🏻‍♀️

Be

Posted at
I think it's wrong, and ugly. But do whatever the hell you want. Just don't expect people to necessarily think your choices are socially consious or cute.