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You probably remember the furor a while back about the girl who wore a 'Chinese dress' as her prom dress. It became a huge story and got everyone in a tizzy about cultural appropriation, what it means, when it becomes problematic and if, just maybe, we are all becoming just a little too damn sensitive with all the social issues?
The debate is still ongoing, with polls from China indicating that the Chinese themselves are baffled by the controversy, and actually take great pride when foreigners appreciate the beauty of their culture. However many Chinese-Americans point out that the experience of growing up as part of a minority and profoundly different culture was different for them. If a Chinese-American turned up to prom in traditional clothing, they might experience the mocking and bullying that many grew up with, but when a white girl does it, she's lauded for being 'unique' and 'exotic.'
And now we have reached the inevitable 'backlash against the backlash,' and it is thankfully a little more lighthearted this time! People have taken to mocking the tweet that started the whole thing: “My culture is not your prom dress.” In a series of hilarious viral memes, the phrase is hilariously lampooned in ever more absurd fashion, providing some much needed comic relief to the culture shock saga which shows no signs of going away just yet.
Scroll down to check out the cultural appreciation and appropriation parodies for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
Keziah Daum is an 18-year-old girl who recently had her senior prom
On April 22nd she posted pictures from the big event which she attended wearing a stunning Chinese qipao
This kicked off a heated debate about cultural appropriation that has been raging ever since
And it all started with one Twitter user tweeting the now iconic phrase
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Jurgen Shantz 6 years ago
In my opinion the people who bullied this girl for wearing a dress are evil. (don't hate it a reference)
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Randomcthulu 6 years ago
The thought of how that would feel, especially the shoes, grossed me out
Kristin Connon 6 years ago
I'm sorry, but after a while that dress had to have smelled HORRID. I gag just thinking about it. I know she was trying to make a statement and all, but there are less cringey ways of doing it.
Christina Sersif 6 years ago
something I always wondered about this outfit was...is it real meat?
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What do you think ?
Xena Mariott 6 years ago
It is appreciation, not appropriation for the loe of god. The Chinese, in China love this dress nd love that their culture is being promoted. Literally a brief look on Baidu shows this. I mean, if you want to do this cutural appropriation bollox, I could point out that the Qipao comes from Manchu dress, which was popular because high class women wore it in the Qing Dynasty. So the design is "approriated" already. The ao dai of Vietnam also comes from Manchu dress, the kimono of Japan and hanbok of Korea were inspired by the hanfu of China. All apppropriation right? This is stupid.
Daria B 6 years ago
I agree with you. And to whomever downvoted this comment, please, explain why. Give your facts. Learning about various world cultures and histories is always interesting.
Load More Replies...
Pamela 6 years ago
Not to mention the guy who began this debate about the girl, has a slew of hateful racial slurs throughout his twitter.
Marika Stanway 6 years ago
She wore a dress! If it's absolutely forbidden for any other nationalities to wear that dress, then why on earth is it sold all over the world??? Some national dresses take months, if not years to make, by hand. Those are not made for sale, they are made as a family heirloom and are not worn in any other, but very important occasions. Those kind of dresses you do not wear casually to a prom. When are people going to start complaining that West is calling certain types of women's tops kimonos? Surely that is some kind of cultural thing too. Utterly ridiculous. She looked absolutely stunning. I hope her whole experience hasn't been ruined by all the hate poured on her.
Kenny Kulbiski 6 years ago
I guess she could go nude, that way nobody would be offended. No, wait.......never mind.
A S Koziol 6 years ago
I'm getting tired of living in a country that seems obsessed with out-butthurt-ing each other. Can we please start looking for the things we share? THAT will actually build something.
PeterSpain 6 years ago
It's great that most people support the girl and her freedom of dressing, and not the hate speech of the political correctness.
Pete Jay 6 years ago
While the opposing points, and understand them, you people got to understand that I did see any appreciation for opposing cultural clothing growing up. Any immigrant children at school wearing indian, chinese, or african attire were ALL bullied and made fun of, forcing them to assimilate. Yet would anyone bully a white person wearing these clothes? Absolutely not.
CbusResident 6 years ago
Then condemn the bullying of children who want to wear the traditional clothes of their culture. Don't condemn children from other cultures choosing to borrow that culture when there is no bad intention behind that. The left needs to stop crying over non-issues if it wants to be taken seriously.
Load More Replies...
Jake Holtson 6 years ago
its not appreciation or depreciation or any of that s**t, some girl saw a dress she liked and wore it.
Tom Kent 6 years ago
So now we are going to slam the Chinese for wearing Gucci. Does Mr. Lam have a suit?
Teleri Nyfain 6 years ago
Mr Lam wears western dress - baseball cap, jogging shorts & T-shirt in one pic...
Load More Replies...
Susanna Vesna 6 years ago
That Jeremy Lam is a f*****g idiot! Bet he doesn't know his own culture!
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
What if a friend of Chinese origin had given her the dress? As a white American woman, I wore a shalwar khameez from Pakistan to my college graduation. It was a gift from a Pakistani friend.
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
I bought a dance dress at a vintage shop. It was made in the 1920's. Was that cultural appropriation of the flapper movement? No.
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
She bought this dress at a vintage shop. It did not have a tag stating that it was meant to be worn in a religious ceremony, or was only appropriate for certain members of society. Cultural appropriation is when you subvert the meaning or symbolism of an item of clothing, hairstyle etc. An Asian man wearing a suit and tie in Taiwan is NOT practicing cultural appropriation of "European" dress. A non-clergy person wearing a black cleric shirt, white collar and large cross because he "thinks it looks cool" IS practicing appropriation.
Peta Hurley-Hill 6 years ago
worth a read https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/every-culture-appropriates
Brenden Johnston 3 years ago
I better not see someone going around in a knights costume now after this whole appropriation stuff otherwise it’s hypocrisy.
Nigel Murphy 5 years ago
Chinese in China, Chinese in HK, Taiwan and Singapore are not Chinese Americans and as ignorant of Chinese American history and experience as any white person. They have as much right to comment on the issue as a white person. This is a very specific original Chinese American community issue. Recent Chinese Americans have no right to speak for the original Chinese Americans either. Just put the knee jerk reaction down and slowly back away from it.
GlynisLailann 6 years ago
People are Making a Mountain out of a Molehill. There are many Chinese people wearing Western style dress, so why can't Westerners wear Chinese style dress?
Alyssa Yorgan 6 years ago
Wait....did no one notice that the Chinese guy is being incredibly disrespectful of American culture (i.e. "goddamn prom").....I'm super offended.
Beatrice Alighieri 6 years ago
So... Eating Chinese food outside of China would be 'cultural appropriation' as well? As Xena Mariott stated above, the girl was showing appreciation for the culture - which is totally different from "appropriation".
Chicken Yao 6 years ago
I dont care about appropriating cultures through a qipao prom dress-- she just looks stupid wearing it, as modern Chinese people usually reserve the qipao for lunar new year/ Also the picture with their stereotypical chinese "pose"-- no one in China does this.
Emiri-chan 2 years ago (edited)
If this girl was dating a chinese guy or going to prom in China, okay. (You may see white girls wearing that dress if they're in China or marrying a Chinese guy) But she's white and going to a non-Chinese prom with a non-Chinese guy so it seems she only views Chinese culture as an aesthetic. She looks pretty but it's just cringe imho
Μαρια Ταξιαρχουλα Χατζηηλια 6 years ago
I agree that her choice of clothing wasn't offensive but while trying to defend herself against those who attacked her on twitter, she retweeted Ben Shapiro....I'll leave that one here....................
Chris Tipton-King 6 years ago
When I hear people complain about too much "political correctness," what I hear is complaining about "treating people with respect." Appropriating other cultures wouldn't be such a problem if we were treated like cultural equals, but that's never been the case.
Teleri Nyfain 6 years ago
Really??? In what WAY exactly did all the bullys treat this poor girl with respect? Just go crawl away now.
Load More Replies... Xena Mariott 6 years ago
Appropriation would be taking the thing from another culture and claiming it as yours. So taking a Native American design, copying it, claiming it is yours and the original artist loses out. Or takng a sacred and gifted artefact like a war bonnet and wearing it as decoration. I have a shoulder cowl that you have to have permission to wear, and I have permission to wear it, that is not appropriation. I have another name from another culture but that culture gifted that to me. I have earrings from a culture that people of that culture gifted to me. Using these, given and made by their respectiv cultures, is appreciation and not appropriation. This item? This is a dress, that she thought was pretty, and most likely paid a Chinese person for. That is not appropriation, it is appreciation. Make lectures on cultural appropriation when it actually is appropriation and not appreciation.
Load More Replies...
Sky 6 years ago
Keep dreaming Amanda. She's a late bloomer, and a beautiful one at that.
Load More Replies...
Xena Mariott 6 years ago
It is appreciation, not appropriation for the loe of god. The Chinese, in China love this dress nd love that their culture is being promoted. Literally a brief look on Baidu shows this. I mean, if you want to do this cutural appropriation bollox, I could point out that the Qipao comes from Manchu dress, which was popular because high class women wore it in the Qing Dynasty. So the design is "approriated" already. The ao dai of Vietnam also comes from Manchu dress, the kimono of Japan and hanbok of Korea were inspired by the hanfu of China. All apppropriation right? This is stupid.
Daria B 6 years ago
I agree with you. And to whomever downvoted this comment, please, explain why. Give your facts. Learning about various world cultures and histories is always interesting.
Load More Replies... Pamela 6 years ago
Not to mention the guy who began this debate about the girl, has a slew of hateful racial slurs throughout his twitter.
Marika Stanway 6 years ago
She wore a dress! If it's absolutely forbidden for any other nationalities to wear that dress, then why on earth is it sold all over the world??? Some national dresses take months, if not years to make, by hand. Those are not made for sale, they are made as a family heirloom and are not worn in any other, but very important occasions. Those kind of dresses you do not wear casually to a prom. When are people going to start complaining that West is calling certain types of women's tops kimonos? Surely that is some kind of cultural thing too. Utterly ridiculous. She looked absolutely stunning. I hope her whole experience hasn't been ruined by all the hate poured on her.
Kenny Kulbiski 6 years ago
I guess she could go nude, that way nobody would be offended. No, wait.......never mind.
A S Koziol 6 years ago
I'm getting tired of living in a country that seems obsessed with out-butthurt-ing each other. Can we please start looking for the things we share? THAT will actually build something.
PeterSpain 6 years ago
It's great that most people support the girl and her freedom of dressing, and not the hate speech of the political correctness.
Pete Jay 6 years ago
While the opposing points, and understand them, you people got to understand that I did see any appreciation for opposing cultural clothing growing up. Any immigrant children at school wearing indian, chinese, or african attire were ALL bullied and made fun of, forcing them to assimilate. Yet would anyone bully a white person wearing these clothes? Absolutely not.
CbusResident 6 years ago
Then condemn the bullying of children who want to wear the traditional clothes of their culture. Don't condemn children from other cultures choosing to borrow that culture when there is no bad intention behind that. The left needs to stop crying over non-issues if it wants to be taken seriously.
Load More Replies... Jake Holtson 6 years ago
its not appreciation or depreciation or any of that s**t, some girl saw a dress she liked and wore it.
Tom Kent 6 years ago
So now we are going to slam the Chinese for wearing Gucci. Does Mr. Lam have a suit?
Teleri Nyfain 6 years ago
Mr Lam wears western dress - baseball cap, jogging shorts & T-shirt in one pic...
Load More Replies... Susanna Vesna 6 years ago
That Jeremy Lam is a f*****g idiot! Bet he doesn't know his own culture!
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
What if a friend of Chinese origin had given her the dress? As a white American woman, I wore a shalwar khameez from Pakistan to my college graduation. It was a gift from a Pakistani friend.
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
I bought a dance dress at a vintage shop. It was made in the 1920's. Was that cultural appropriation of the flapper movement? No.
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
She bought this dress at a vintage shop. It did not have a tag stating that it was meant to be worn in a religious ceremony, or was only appropriate for certain members of society. Cultural appropriation is when you subvert the meaning or symbolism of an item of clothing, hairstyle etc. An Asian man wearing a suit and tie in Taiwan is NOT practicing cultural appropriation of "European" dress. A non-clergy person wearing a black cleric shirt, white collar and large cross because he "thinks it looks cool" IS practicing appropriation.
Peta Hurley-Hill 6 years ago
worth a read https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/every-culture-appropriates
Brenden Johnston 3 years ago
I better not see someone going around in a knights costume now after this whole appropriation stuff otherwise it’s hypocrisy.
Nigel Murphy 5 years ago
Chinese in China, Chinese in HK, Taiwan and Singapore are not Chinese Americans and as ignorant of Chinese American history and experience as any white person. They have as much right to comment on the issue as a white person. This is a very specific original Chinese American community issue. Recent Chinese Americans have no right to speak for the original Chinese Americans either. Just put the knee jerk reaction down and slowly back away from it.
GlynisLailann 6 years ago
People are Making a Mountain out of a Molehill. There are many Chinese people wearing Western style dress, so why can't Westerners wear Chinese style dress?
Alyssa Yorgan 6 years ago
Wait....did no one notice that the Chinese guy is being incredibly disrespectful of American culture (i.e. "goddamn prom").....I'm super offended.
Beatrice Alighieri 6 years ago
So... Eating Chinese food outside of China would be 'cultural appropriation' as well? As Xena Mariott stated above, the girl was showing appreciation for the culture - which is totally different from "appropriation".
Chicken Yao 6 years ago
I dont care about appropriating cultures through a qipao prom dress-- she just looks stupid wearing it, as modern Chinese people usually reserve the qipao for lunar new year/ Also the picture with their stereotypical chinese "pose"-- no one in China does this.
Emiri-chan 2 years ago (edited)
If this girl was dating a chinese guy or going to prom in China, okay. (You may see white girls wearing that dress if they're in China or marrying a Chinese guy) But she's white and going to a non-Chinese prom with a non-Chinese guy so it seems she only views Chinese culture as an aesthetic. She looks pretty but it's just cringe imho
Μαρια Ταξιαρχουλα Χατζηηλια 6 years ago
I agree that her choice of clothing wasn't offensive but while trying to defend herself against those who attacked her on twitter, she retweeted Ben Shapiro....I'll leave that one here....................
Chris Tipton-King 6 years ago
When I hear people complain about too much "political correctness," what I hear is complaining about "treating people with respect." Appropriating other cultures wouldn't be such a problem if we were treated like cultural equals, but that's never been the case.
Teleri Nyfain 6 years ago
Really??? In what WAY exactly did all the bullys treat this poor girl with respect? Just go crawl away now.
Load More Replies... Xena Mariott 6 years ago
Appropriation would be taking the thing from another culture and claiming it as yours. So taking a Native American design, copying it, claiming it is yours and the original artist loses out. Or takng a sacred and gifted artefact like a war bonnet and wearing it as decoration. I have a shoulder cowl that you have to have permission to wear, and I have permission to wear it, that is not appropriation. I have another name from another culture but that culture gifted that to me. I have earrings from a culture that people of that culture gifted to me. Using these, given and made by their respectiv cultures, is appreciation and not appropriation. This item? This is a dress, that she thought was pretty, and most likely paid a Chinese person for. That is not appropriation, it is appreciation. Make lectures on cultural appropriation when it actually is appropriation and not appreciation.
Load More Replies... Sky 6 years ago
Keep dreaming Amanda. She's a late bloomer, and a beautiful one at that.
Load More Replies...
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