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An example of insane "feminism," and the idiocy of the grievance justice labeled "cultural appropriation."

This is the type of thinking that can be used to oppose inter-racial marriage and procreation:

"""
Here at Everyday Feminism we often write about cultural appropriation—when members of dominant culture takes cultural elements and practices from a people who are systematically oppressed by that dominant group.

These aspects of culture are often consumed in a popularized way that DILUTES THEIR ORIGINAL SIGNIFICANCE.
"""

This is pure stupidity.

That is exactly the way the alt-righter racists think.

[opendemocracy.net]

JacarC 8 Jan 15
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What is really going on here. Ever heard of Strip Mining Idealism?

How is that cultural appropriation? That is war. That is evil.

But, me cooking "chinese" food is a appropriation. That is the point of the article.

@Jacar It goes right to the heart of your point. There needs to be victims and no matter what those victims do, they are still victims.

Now go listen to the rest for John Michael Greer makes the point better than me.

3

Ok lets try this. I worked with a woman whose husband had an affair. We all worked in the same hospital. Now this guy (we'll call him scumbag) moved his new woman into the former family home, my friend witnessed this woman 'take over' her former life, whilst scumbag got all the benefits. One day we sat in the canteen and Scumbag helped his new woman into her coat, except it wasn't her coat...it was my friends! It was hers, it was her history, her kids she had given birth to, her house she had decorated and it was HER COAT! I remember my friend saying, 'He hated me wearing that coat.If an oppressor, who may have formally denied access to your own culture, then decides they want the nice bits for themself then that is appropriation. I remember Christine's anger and pain, as a very young woman it really affected me. I completely empathise as to why this may hurt.

@OwlInASack Absolutely, but I never give up on anyone 😉

Amazing how triggered you got about me objecting to the stupidity of the ideas and language found in that article.

@Jacar Not triggered, just irritated

4

The article actually says this:

"Cultures have traveled across so many different communities and through so many places over time, it’s hard to distinguish where something “originally” comes from and who has “ownership” over what. Traditions that we feel connected to as our own may have come from other cultures and places.

Because of this, discussions of cultural appropriation go beyond simple hard and fast rules of who can or can’t do something.

Perhaps, paying closer attention to why certain cultural elements become commodified and appropriated offers a helpful framework."

The author clearly states cultural appropriation doesn't mean appreciating or understanding the cultures around the world, nor using the technology or "science like math" that is developed by other "cultures."

What exasperates me is that instead of trying to understand this, the reactions of some members have been defensive.

No. Seriously. Relax. We ALL engage in cultural appropriate to some degree. We cannot avoid it. But learning insight into it, and understanding the reasons why they are there IS important if we want to make sure we don't repeat the same mistakes our ancestors made. Ok. I am done ranting. I will shut up.

Preach on, brother Ken!

Thank you for understanding. "Cultural appropriation" is just another non-existent reason to hate white men.

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Cultural appropriation is dumb.
It's appreciation, adaptation, and assimilation.
Every human culture has done it from the beginning of time. Chill out you're not a racist because you are a wrap or at Taco Bell. It's okay.

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Oh boy.. I’m just not going to go there today

Yep, I agree. How's things? Been visiting student nurses on medical wards today. I got a bit jealous.

@Amisja keeping busy. I watched the brexit vote.. now what?

@Green_eyes Now sure to be honest. I think they will force a vote of no-confidence in Parliament and kick it into the long grass (which I think might have secretly been their plan all along) #verystupididea

@Amisja I know my family is hoping for another referendum. May needs to go and take trump with her.

@Green_eyes hahaha, I think we another referendum too, we were lied to.

5

What are you ranting about? What is your understanding of cultural appropriation? Did you even bother to read the whole article?

Allow me to give you a small example of cultural appropriation. Go to google and search for "sexy indian costume." Here. This is the link: [google.com]

What you see is a sexualized caricature of Native American costumes, worn by good-looking white women. Note none of the pictures show actual Indian. They are all Native American styles. None of them are male, because Native American males are not commodifiable as a sexual object. But Native American women, played by white women, are very definitely commodfiable.

Do you think that this type of commodification of Native American women somehow encourages inter-racial marriage? And criticism of this type of cultural appropriation somehow discourages a true love between people of different race? I think this is a fine example of commodification of Native American culture (flattened, devoid of its depth, sexualized and cheapened), which only encourages the white male's fetish of "exotic" women, whom they find to be from more subservient race.

Of course, that is my "opinion." A criticism of this type of cultural appropriation, I am sure, is EXACTLY the way the alt-righters think.

Maybe sexy brings up women and not the race

More examples

@Biosteelman Yes. Try "Indian costumes" instead of "Native American Clothing." But that is besides the point. The former is an example of a cultural appropriation. The latter, what you searched for, is not. Not all display of Native American culture is appropriation. But there are clear examples of such cultural appropriation. It's not all or nothing.

I think it's not men sexualizing women but men use the word sexy more to describe attractive women while women vary their descriptors. It's an algorithm thing not a men are bad and reduce women to a simple object thing.

@KenCha costumes are inherently cartoonish look up cop costume or firefighter costume. C'mon you know better. And women buy more sexy costumes for Halloween than men that's just a matter of sales.

@Biosteelman You are still missing the point. Yes, costumes ARE in fact cartoonish caricature. That is WHY they are examples of cultural appropriation. And then there is whole another angle of "women buy more sexy costumes for Halloween than men that's just a matter of sales." Why do you think that is? That's just the way these women are? Ok, that's a discussion regarding sexism.

BUT apart from sexism: What is cultural appropriation but a cartoonish mock-up of another culture for the purpose of sales (commodification)? And if so, what is the impact of such a cultural appropriation? One can argue, hey it's all in fun, so it's perfectly ok. But so defined, it is clear that such examples exist. The article is trying to explain the impact of such cultural appropriation. And that is not what we are discussing here for some strange reasons. We are stuck at the point zero....

@KenChang ok then costume companies are sexist for selling items that sell more. It is failing by reaching for things that are so far from the truth it hurts. Asian women in America are perceived as docile and weak? I'm guessing that's why they're taking the jobs and moving up in the world. The whole premise is silly.

@Biosteelman Hmmmm. You are somehow still stuck at the sexism discussion. I am not sure you understand what I am trying to say. "costume companies are sexist for selling items that sell more." The costume companies supply products (costumes), and the supplies won't be sold unless there is "demand." This is econ 101. Still with me? Let's assume, as you said, "women buy more sexy costumes than man." That is describing a particular nature of the "demand." Right? My question to you was, how is it that the demand comes about? Why is it that women buy more "sexy costumes" than men? That's a sexism discussion.

We haven't even touched on the cultural appropriation question. What you appear to be saying is that since "Asian women in Amerca" are "taking the jobs" (what does that mean, TAKING the jobs?) and "moving up in the world" there is no such thing as racism and sexism? The whole premise is silly? WHAT exactly IS the whole premise? Enlighten me.

@KenChang It is silly to think that cultural appropriation creates a negative effect derived from costumes worn at Halloween for the people who are from said culture.
There is racism, there is sexism but cultute appriopriation isnt that and doesnt aid to it.
Glad you recognize costume companies selling sexy clothes to women is a result from demand and not sexism as you first suggested.

Cultural appropriation as it called is just as likely to create a feeling of familiarity and good feelings toward members of a given culture as it would give any negative attributes. Being such would make it undetectable because the net effect would be 0.

I'm saying Asian women out perform other women in the job market.

@Biosteelman I'm Native American. I hate things like this.

@Biosteelman

Ok. Now we are getting somewhere. So we agree that racism exists. Sexism exists.
But you believe that cultural appropriation does NOT have negative impact, and does not add to racism and sexism. Right? In fact you believe that cultural appropriate actually has a positive impact in creating "good feelings" towards the members of the subject culture.

Is that what you are saying?

The "silly" notion is to believe that cultural appropriation has any negative impact on sexism or racism. Right?

Did I state your positions correctly?

Now the question for you, so that I can clearly understand you. Do you believe that racism or sexism is an individual traits? Or do you believe that there still exists institutionalized racism and sexism?

P.S. Asian men also outperform other men in the job market. I am so glad that I am a member of this model minority. What is interesting is that while the Asians perform well in the job market as measured in median earnings, neither asian men nor especially asian women have proportionate representations in the positions of power. The black and latina women are still very much suffering from the job market.

Would it be the same to search for any other type of dress?

@SleeplessInTexas doesn't matter if you hate it. You don't have to wear it if you don't want to.

@KenChang Correct, I don't believe cultural appropriation across the board I don't think has a measurable impact if it had any it would be more likely positive than negative. I'm okay with saying they cancel out though, net 0.
Individual traits.
Do I believe that the institutions were by design or accident set up in a way that benefits one group of people of another. Sure but any attempt to modify them for equality of opportunity would result in discrimination and any attempt to modify them for equality of outcome would result in discrimination. The question then becomes which groups become better of with which system. So its actually a yes and no and which of the two do I view as the lesser of evils?

In regards to that last part I understand this issue is deeply complicated as it involves multiple aspects from multiple issues. From what I've read on the matter in regards to Asians is high technical competence but low soft skills.The question is are the soft skills not developed from choices and how can those choices be changed? From my personal experience working on teams with various people every time I've been on an all Asian team I'm always the spokes person and coordinator. When I realized that I actually tried not to be but without fail I am. So the deeper question in those times of choice why? Are the soft skills not valued by the culture? << that is anecdotal I know.
The others if you're under performing in the job market you will under perform in the higher positions as well.

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Oh Jacar you are so misguided

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Yawn.

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Cultural appropriation, I think, is a two-way street.

A bit harsh? To be fair, many Peterson fans really appreciate the direction he gives them to help make their lives more fulfilling. True, the fanboys are a pain in the butt and seem to think it’s just another way to seem clever. But not everybody. You’re coming across a bit like the father in Cat Steven’s song Father And Son who complains ‘you’re still young, that’s your fault’. I remember my enthusiasm as a young man and my ignorance about my ignorance and thankfully wasn’t completely shut down by those who knew better.

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