Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation

(Context)

I think this is a really good example of the nuances regarding appreciation and appropriation. A white teenager in Utah decided to wear a cheongsam/qipao to her prom, which sparked outrage in American social media, but a lot of support in China. It left a lot people really confused about how and where we can draw the lines between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation.

For Asian-Americans, who experience oppression when it comes to the presence of their culture in America; think Lunchbox Moment and why Asian-Americans aren't the ones actively wearing these type of attire to prom (hint: it's not because we don't think they're beautiful), seeing someone that is not within that culture wear something that has a lot of history behind is offensive. While many Asian-American kids, and people of color in general, are made to feel as though showcasing their culture and history is weird and unacceptable, a white girl is celebrated for wearing a qipao with zero ties to its cultural relevance.

I also don't think it's appropriate to ask what Chinese netizens think of the issues, not because their opinions doesn't matter, but because they do not have the full context of why people living in America is upset. For them, whenever a person of a different culture puts on a piece of apparel from their culture, they are profiting. If a noticeable American public figure goes to China and wears a cheongsam/qipao, a Chinese designer profits. When we go to Korea and rent out their traditional attire to take photos in, that boutique/business profits.

One of the main differences between cultural appropriation and appreciation is whether or not an Asian business/person/group is able to profit from the labor and history that is behind that service. Part of appreciation is supporting those that have a ties to the thing you're appreciating.