"Culture or Clout?
In a world where trends go viral overnight and style is shared with a swipe, borrowing from other cultures is more common than ever—especially in the way we dress, speak, and move to music. But here’s the real question: when are we honoring culture, and when are we just using it for clout? For teens and young adults navigating identity and influence, understanding the line between appreciation and appropriation isn’t just about being “woke”—it’s about being aware. Because celebrating culture should never come at the cost of disrespecting the people it belongs to.
Defining Cultural Appreciation and Appropriation
Cultural appreciation involves seeking to understand and learn about another culture in a way that respects and honors its traditions and values. It fosters mutual respect and deeper connections between diverse communities. Conversely, cultural appropriation occurs when individuals adopt elements of a culture not their own without understanding or respecting the significance behind them, often reducing sacred or meaningful practices to mere fashion statements or entertainment. FAB L'Style+2Greenheart International+2Parents+2
Fashion: A Double-Edged Sword
Fashion is supposed to be about expression—but what happens when someone else’s culture becomes just another “aesthetic”? The industry has a habit of pulling from global traditions without context, turning sacred symbols into accessories. Think about it: a Native headdress on a runway isn’t bold or edgy—it’s disrespect wrapped in designer fabric. When culture is borrowed without credit, meaning gets lost, and real people get erased. The drip might be fire, but if you don’t know the story behind the fit, are you really wearing it—or just using it?
Music: Blurring the Lines
In music, blending sounds from different cultures can create magic—but it can also spark serious controversy. When artists borrow beats, flows, or vibes from cultures they don’t belong to—especially without giving credit—it can feel less like inspiration and more like exploitation. This hits even harder when the original culture has been historically silenced or pushed aside, while the artist profiting off its style gets praise, fame, and streams. The question isn’t can you use it—it’s how you use it, why, and who really benefits.
Language and Slang: Context Matters
The use of slang or linguistic expressions from different cultures is another area where the line between appreciation and appropriation can blur. Adopting phrases or dialects without understanding their origins or cultural significance can lead to misrepresentation and perpetuation of stereotypes. It's essential to approach language with sensitivity and awareness of its cultural roots. We all love a good phrase that hits—but where did it come from? Using slang from different cultures might feel fun or trendy, but if you don’t know the roots, you might be repeating someone’s struggle as a punchline. When language born from survival or identity becomes a social media catchphrase, it’s easy to slip from appreciation into appropriation. Words carry weight.
Navigating the Fine Line
To engage in cultural appreciation rather than appropriation, consider the following guidelines:
Educate Yourself: Learn about the cultural significance of the elements you wish to incorporate. Understanding the history and meaning behind cultural practices is fundamental.
Seek Permission and Give Credit: Whenever possible, obtain consent from cultural bearers and acknowledge the origins of the cultural elements you are using.
Reflect on Intent and Impact: Consider why you are drawn to a particular cultural element and how its use might affect the community it originates from.
Support Authentic Representation: Instead of adopting cultural elements yourself, consider supporting artists and creators from that culture by amplifying their work.FAB L'Style