Instances of cultural appropriation are slowly increasing with the recent interest in “exotic” fashion choices. Cultural appropriation is more than mere cultural borrowing; it is mockery or disrespect of a certain culture or ethnicity by another culture or ethnicity. What many people do not understand is that taking part in a culture without acknowledging the culture itself is actually offensive and it is a growing problem in today’s society.

There is a fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Certain examples of cultural borrowing provide positive influences to society. Yoga is a prime example of a piece of Hindu culture transformed into a beneficial part of the west. Originating in India, yoga is a central part of Hinduism, as well as Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism meant as a means to reach enlightenment. Yoga is naturally assimilated into western culture rather than appropriated. Assimilation is the benign natural combining of two cultures, which in this case is Hindu culture along with western culture. Modern, western yoga uses traditional elements such as the chanting of mantras and the clearing of the mind through meditation. Yoga is used for advantageous health benefits, such as prenatal yoga, and is used with an overall mindset of awareness and appreciation with a goal of mastery over the body and mind.

Henna is commonly seen as an example of cultural appropriation of Middle Eastern and Indian culture. However, henna is merely used as decoration during a period of celebration such as Diwali, Eid or weddings. Henna (or Mehndi) is a temporary tattoo made with a dye found in the henna plant. The dye is used to stain skin, and it lasts for about two to three weeks. Although Henna has been used in India for centuries, it is a mere fashion statement used during celebratory times. Also, the manner of henna usage in western countries is in no means a form of mockery. Traditional henna designs are used and the awareness of the origin is respected, therefore, henna is not an example of cultural appropriation.

However, the use of sacred cultural items in a way without recognition can be deemed as offensive. For example, bindis, or decorative jewels placed in between the eyebrows, are commonly worn by young girls during music festivals, such as Coachella or Austin City Limits (ACL). But these young people are not aware of the meaning behind the use of bindis. In Hinduism, bindis represent the center of the universe and unity. They are used in religious ceremonies to represent the unity between God and an individual. They are also used in weddings to represent the unity between two people. Bindis are a sacred part of Hindu culture and should not be exploited by the western population in the name of fashion.

Also, large corporate stores, such as Forever 21, tend to use Indian designs (and other cultural designs) in their products with no apparent credit to the culture they came from. They sell necklaces that with designs depicted as “mysterious” or  “innovative” while in reality they have been a part of Indian culture for centuries. These necklaces are visually short and close to the neck and include intricate jewel patterns that sometimes hangs off the necklace. These specific necklace designs were found on the Forever 21 website by searching up “exotic” and “boho”. The fact that popular stores simply bunch up different complex cultures into one adjective, without acknowledging the origins of their “exotic” products is not an accurate representation of the fashion choices. Not all non-western fashion pieces are a “vintage boho appeal”.

Moreover, Halloween tends to bring some of the most atrocious cultural appropriation with controversial costumes based on sacred aspects of Native American culture. A revealing costume of Pocahontas is not a good representation of the culture, considering that the natives have been historically oppressed by the dominating race. Other Halloween costumes tend to use stereotypes of an ethnicity. A sombrero and maracas to display Mexican, or gold chains and “thug” clothing to display African Americans is not an accurate representation of each ethnicity.Stereotypes should not be used to define a culture.

The diversity in our country should be completely appreciated and seen under a positive light. Appropriation reflects badly on any culture. People should take the time to understand the meaning of the parts of different cultures rather than blindly using them as a fashion statement. Using a part of the culture in a non-discriminatory and respectful way is completely okay as long as you took the time to acknowledge the culture/ethnicity that specific aspect derived from. The problem lies with the lack of awareness and education. Cultural appreciation is a beautiful thing, but crossing that fine line into cultural appropriation can easily become ignorant and detestable.