Arguments Against Cultural Appropriation

Furthermore, considering the instability of culture and the historical events that reinforce this idea, the seemingly inevitable act of cultural appropriation can be constructive to society. What many do not realize is that appropriation allows people to learn more about another culture: “When we attack people for stepping outside their own cultural experiences, we hinder our ability to develop empathy and cross-cultural understanding” (Cathy, 2015). Cultural adoption brings new changes and possibilities to a group (Cathy, 2015), resulting in the evolution or creation of a community. Since the beginning of globalization, it is likely that elements of a culture were selected and taken by another. As people immigrate and influence a group with aspects of another, the community becomes diverse (Abdul-Jabbar, 2015). For example, while Japan has embraced cultures from China and Korea in the past (Cathy, 2015), today, Japanese
To adopt and establish new concepts is also very humane and has contributed to the progress of society in the past and present (Yo, 2015). Nonetheless, as appropriation can harm cultures if they are disrespected, these acts can become outlets for discriminatory behaviors. Considering the tension around racial concerns, the uproar against cultural appropriation is understandable (Yo, 2015). However, it needs to be made clear the definition itself does not imply negative intentions. Rather, the cause of its wrongdoings is the deeply rooted discriminatory views and habits of segregation still embedded in society. Cultural appropriation is one of the issues that exist differently in society today than in past, but is still affected by the imbalances of power between groups. Adoption of another can be wrong and harmful, however, it is not the act itself that needs to be abandoned, but the unfair values in the social structures of