Prom dress prompts 'cultural appropriation' row

BBC ^ | 04/30/18 | Chris Bell

[Simon Green]

A high school student's prom pictures have generated a furious debate online after some social media users accused the 18-year-old of "cultural appropriation".

Twitter user Keziah, who is not Chinese, posted pictures of herself wearing a cheongsam, or qipao - a traditional Chinese dress - for her prom in Utah, USA, last week.

In a widely-shared response to the pictures, one Twitter user, Jeremy Lam, tweeted: "My culture is not your... prom dress".

The original tweet, and Lam's criticism on Friday night, have attracted hundreds of thousands of likes, tens of thousands of retweets, and thousands more comments as supporters and critics clashed over the weekend over the concept of cultural appropriation - the adoption of minority cultures, typically by dominant cultures.

Mr Lam explained on Twitter why he found the photos troubling. He said the qipao began as a formless gown for house cleaning and was turned into a symbol of female empowerment.

"In a time where Asian women were silenced they were able to create not only a piece of art but a symbol of activism," he wrote.

"This piece of clothing embraced femininity, confidence and gender equality through its beautiful, eye-catching appearance.

"The style was then spread throughout Asia as a beautiful garment and sign of women's liberation.

"I'm proud of my culture, including the extreme barriers marginalised people within that culture have had to overcome those obstacles. For it to simply be subject to American consumerism and cater to a white audience is parallel to colonial ideology."

Mr Lam's post clearly struck a chord. By the time of writing it had been liked more than 167,000 times and retweeted close to 40,000 times.

However, after some commenters suggested Keziah should remove the pictures, she refused.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

A similar joke, that I think was made famous by Pierre Trudeau, though I doubt he invented it:

Poor Canada! She could have had American Know-How, British Government, and French Culture. Instead, she got British Know-How, French Government, and American Culture.

And which Mexican dictator was it who said: "Poor Meh-hee-co! So faaaaar from God! So close to the United States!" (Porfirio Diaz, perhaps?)

[radu]

It is hard to beat! And the good thing is it tastes even better the next day, after “blending” a bit. Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Can’t blame your daughter’s unwillingness to wait. LOL! The aroma is mighty hard to resist when one is smelling it for hours. I’ve done the same thing more than once. :-)

[radu]

I hadn’t heard either one of those before.

And yep, it was Porfirio Diaz. :-)

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Actually, trains were a British invention, not American, though prototype scale models were being built in both countries before the first practical high-powered steam train appeared in Britain. But AKAIK the entire rest of your list is accurate.

[Jack Hammer]

She looks lovely.

This ‘cultural appropriation’ crap is a load of horse apples.

People need to get a life.

[dp0622]

That girl is cute in the ad :)

Never thought about Mama Mia!!!!

Like I said before, what is he doing appropriating an American invention, the internet?

[dp0622]

I would love to know your name :)

Some beautiful Italian names.

And the article is quite confused. ALL I see is condemnation of this twit on twitter.

One can love aspects of their ancestors’ culture without being an idiot.

I’d like to think my grandparents brought some food, music and carpenter and construction talents to our great country.

But we assimilated very quickly.

[dp0622]

How are you?!!?? :)

And I learned some new facts from your comment.

You know too much!!

Makes me look bad.

But I DID leave out the noddles because the Chinese did invent it. :)

[dp0622]

It doesn’t matter!!! :)

Why are you trying to ruin an utterly unrelated, unintelligent and racist rant!!

I guess this is where I say “they’re all the same” and show my complete racism and ignorance! :(

My apologies to the Japanese people.

PS It’s like having a mom on the board that scolds you :)

[joshua c]

Ok, she will not wear the dress again if everyone in Asia takes off their jackets and ties.

[fella]

Cultural appropriation is how all societies advance.

[rlmorel]

It does indeed..."...the lovers are Swiss..."

And organized by the Italians!

[IronJack]

Her reply: “My prom dress is not your culture. And I don’t need to ask your permission when I choose my clothes. Go to hell.”

[MNJohnnie]

Not Guilty!

[MNJohnnie]

He’s just mad because she looks better in it than he does.

That right there, now that is funny.

[mewzilla]

How come the folks having a cow about this never jump ugly on Hillary over her Maofits...?

[ladyjane]

Asian man named JEREMY complains about cultural appropriation.

Good point. I knew the Asian girls took American names but didn't realize the guys did too.

I am getting to really dislike this younger generation and their idiocy.

[Disambiguator]

Ok, so what is the “wrong” way to wear a kilt? And does it apply to utility kilts?

[T-Bone Texan]

If the anti white racist Mr. Lam continues to use indoor plumbing, toilet paper, telephones, or antibiotics, he is appropriating my white culture, and that is not OK.

He should stop using those things and in effect kill himself.

For real, stop using my Western medicine. It offends me.

[AnAmericanMother]

There are LOTS of wrong ways to wear a kilt! (1) Wearing any undergarment that *shows* is one (in the Highland regiments you are out of uniform if you wear *anything* under the kilt - unless participating in athletics, dancing, or marching band, because all those activities are likely to make your kilt flip up. But if you DO feel the need to wear something, nobody should know. I have seen men with their boxer shorts playing peekaboo under the hem.) (2) Wearing a kilt that is too long (should hit between the center and top of the kneecap). You'll occasionally see one too short, usually the re-enactment folks who are wearing belted plaids, but that's a whole nother story. (3) Wearing a ladies' dress thinking it's a kilt - the pleating and heavy weight of a kilt is distinctive (utility kilts fall in this category. They are not pleated correctly and the fabric is much too lightweight). (4) Wearing inappropriate accessories. If you go casual, a plain leather sporran, a nice belt, wool hose and sturdy shoes are about it.

Some people gripe about the tartans; I don't. Only 3 or 4 "setts" (patterns) predate the 1746 outlawing of tartan and Highland dress. Most were created in the Victorian era, after Walter Scott made the Highlands fashionable.