Cultural appropriation is not fine as it continues the oppression of non-dominant culture. [In Australia, there are cases where white Australian businesses have stolen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks for use on T-shirts and souvenirs.](https://au.reachout.com/articles/why-cultural-appropriation-isnt-cool) .This is an example of the dominant culture making money from non-dominant culture with no credit to the original artists. Many influencers are also guilty of this. The Kardashians for example have been frequently called out for cultural appropriation. For example, Kylie Jenner has been commended for wearing her hair in braids (originating from Black culture). Yet, Kylie is being commended for styling a hair style that she did not create, she stole without regard for the oppressed community in which It was developed.

The injustice of the non-dominant culture persists. When we consider colonialism in a society, it is often the product of colonisation, in which a dominant group claims control of the land and its inhabitants. When the dominant culture tends to steal non-dominant culture elements, the non-dominant culture faces economic oppression and disadvantage. [Cultural appropriation](https://au.reachout.com/articles/why-cultural-appropriation-isnt-cool) often has the unintended side effect of giving credit to the dominant party for elements of a community that they have stolen, reinforcing the power imbalance between the two classes. Non-dominant cultures are often exposed to stereotypes as a result of cultural appropriation. During Halloween, stereotypes such as the Native American chief, the Japanese geisha, and the Arab sheikh can appear. When people from dominant cultures dress up like this, anything culturally important is reduced to a costume so that the dominant group can have a little fun.

**TL;DR – Cultural appropriation is absolutely not fine. Those who think so have many false ideas about the act and here are some [points](https://everydayfeminism.com/2016/05/defending-cultural-appropriation/) to clear them up.** Cultural appropriation is the act of a dominant culture taking elements from a non-dominant culture without thinking about how that action can affect the non-dominant culture. It’s a complex issue and cultural appropriation doesn’t mean something just as much as it means something else. It doesn’t mean we don’t get to share cultures. It’s enriching to do so and we wouldn’t be able to learn if we didn’t. When it’s done disrespectfully and without thinking of the people of a non-dominant culture, it contributes to oppression and harm. On that note, cultural appropriation is not only offensive, but harmful too. This is why we need to take responsibility for our own actions and consider appropriation on a greater level. Every part of a non-dominant culture, even those that may seem trivial to you, should always be acknowledged with respect; not theft. It also perpetuates the power imbalance between cultures – cultural appropriation does not go both ways. Think about how “whiteness” is essentially the norm in all but few places...now think about the fact that there is a *norm*.

**tl;dr -- It's not always cultural appropriation to show appreciation for something you like from another culture.** I'm anticipating a lot of hate for this, but I'm tired of being afraid to speak my mind. I think it's important that this be said -- so, before you raise the pitchforks, please hear me out. It's a shame we can't appreciate things about other cultures without being accused of cultural appropriation. All our lives we're taught to learn about other cultures and celebrate diversity, but when we actually do as such, suddenly we're racist. I'm not saying it's always okay to mimic things from another culture. Some people legitimately do it with hurtful intentions, and they ought to be shamed, canceled, or whatever trending social punishment is effective at the time. But I *am* saying that it's *not always* cultural appropriation for someone of a different culture to wear a kimono, listen to rap music, or show any other kind of *appreciation* for other cultures. Sometimes it's literally just something that a person loves, and they want to show that love and maybe even teach others about how great this other culture is.

It's not that cultural appropriation is fine, it's that the term "cultural appropriation" gets misapplied all the time. If 1 more fucking person tells me I can't get dreadlocks to help manage my long, nappy ass, impossible-to-manage hair just because I'm white I'm gonna scream.

Culture appropriation and mutual penetration of cultures is so natural, so common among all human history and stipulated so much to enrich the world culture that it is hard to believe somebody could combat it. I put just 'Agree' instead of 'Strongly agree' because of only one reason. There is a case when culture appropriation is indeed bad and unjust - when the 'copyright' is stolen. When one culture appropriates credit of initially creating something. For example, Russia's claim to be inventors of borscht while actually it originates from Ukraine and as a Ukrainian I feel this as nothing but theft. But we don't object and even invite anybody to eat borscht, cook borscht, sell borscht and invent own recipes of borscht. We are not dominant culture on the West, but we are not a selfish culture clinging to 'this is only ours, don't you dare to use it'. We are not, and please don't even assume that we are like this, it's insulting. Just don't claim the initial authorship and that's it.

Cultural appropriation is a contentious issue that raises significant ethical concerns about respect, power dynamics, and exploitation. For: Cultural Exchange: Proponents argue that cultural exchange is a natural part of human interaction and can lead to mutual understanding and enrichment. People have historically borrowed and blended elements from different cultures, which has contributed to cultural evolution and innovation. Artistic Inspiration: In the arts, drawing inspiration from different cultures can lead to new, creative expressions and help preserve and share cultural heritage. When done respectfully, it can showcase and celebrate the diversity of human experiences. Against: Power Imbalance: Cultural appropriation often occurs in contexts where there is a significant power imbalance. Dominant groups may take elements from marginalized cultures without understanding or respecting their significance, leading to exploitation and devaluation of those cultural elements. Cultural Erasure: Appropriating elements of a culture can contribute to the erasure of that culture's identity and history. When cultural symbols, traditions, or practices are used out of context or stripped of their meaning, it can diminish their significance and disrespect the people to whom they belong. Economic Exploitation: Often, those who appropriate cultural elements profit from them without giving credit or compensation to the originators. This can perpetuate economic disparities and deny marginalized communities the opportunity to benefit from their own cultural products. Lack of Understanding: Appropriating culture without understanding its context and significance can perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions. It can lead to the trivialization of deeply meaningful traditions and reinforce prejudiced views.