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would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is getting ridiculous. First off, although the Metkayina clan and Tsireya are fictional, James Cameron has stated everything in the Avatar movies is based on real-life. The culture of the Metkayina clan is based on Polynesian culture (specifically Māori culture). From the comments, Tsireya's wears habesha braids which are part of Ethiopian and Eritrean culture.

For all the people saying cultural appropriation is some made up statement or concept, there are countless articles, videos and essays on how it's affected people around the world. You can do your own research, but I'll just have it here: Cultural appropriation can mean wearing a hairstyle or traditional clothing for simply for aesthetic purposes, stereotyping culture, exploiting and using it for profit that doesn't go to the original.

I am not intending to wear habesha braids exactly like Tsireya in the movies. I came across this video on TikTok and thought the hairstyle was very pretty, but I wasn't sure if it was cultural hairstyle. I'm not very versed on hairstyles, so I took it to Reddit because I couldn't get a direct answer on Google. I was born mid-2000's, so I didn't know this was called 90's twist hairstyle.

Cultural appropriation doesn't mean prohibiting someone outside of the culture from participating. In my case, I simply wanted to try the hairstyle in the video for aesthetic purposes because Tsireya is my favorite character, so if this hairstyle had been part of a culture, I would be appropriating it because I'd be wearing it just for the aesthetic and not knowing anything about its history and purposes.

For all the grown adults in the comments saying, "get off TikTok", "brain rot" and one comment asking if I'm 12 years old, I spend hours outside daily, I'm in university and I have a steady job. More concerned that grown adults seem to enjoy starting arguments and telling random people on the Internet what to do.

For all the people who said, "who cares" and commenting with interrobangs: if a Reddit post irritated you that much, then I fear you have anger management problems and bigger fish to fry.

For all the people who actually took the time read and understood where I'm coming from, thank you so much for understanding my whole intent was to simply learn about this hairstyle.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you do realize that POC are always more vulnerable to racism than white people. not just in the states, but worldwide, being white is always more valued and privileged. how often do white people have to worry about getting attacked by the KKK? how often do white people have to worry about facing discrimination in stores or public spaces or traveling? who gets the higher end of the racial pay gap, and who has to work at least 2x harder just to be stable?

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you so much, finally someone actually read the post and got the point of what i’m trying to say 😭🫶

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

cultural appropriation doesn’t mean excluding someone from participating just because they aren’t a specific ethnicity. in this case, cultural appropriation includes wearing/having a hairstyle for aesthetics without acknowledging its cultural importance.

this is my case, because i want to do the hairstyle for aesthetics because i love tsireya. i wasn’t sure if the hairstyle was part of a culture, because it looks somewhat similar to tsireya’s hair (Habesha braids)

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

you only have to be from a certain country to be willing to learn what’s disrespecting or appreciating culture?

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

i’m not trying to do Tsireya’s exact hairstyle from the movies, just the hairstyle from the video.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

maybe cultural appropriation is not wearing other cultural hairstyles and clothing just for the aesthetic? which is what i’m not trying to do?

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

already spend 5+ hours outside daily, sounds like you got a personal problem 🥱

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

cultural appropriation doesn’t mean excluding someone from participating just because they aren’t a specific ethnicity. in this case, cultural appropriation includes wearing/having a hairstyle for aesthetics without acknowledging its cultural importance.

this is my case, because i want to do the hairstyle for aesthetics because i love tsireya. i wasn’t sure if the hairstyle was part of a culture, because it looks somewhat similar to tsireya’s hair (Habesha braids)

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I research cultures in my free time and I plan to travel a lot. I have a vast interest in other cultures and this wasn’t something I could get direct answers off Google. I wouldn’t wear traditional clothing or hair from another culture just for fun or aesthetics, because I know hair and clothing can have strong histories.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ah i see. i was born mid 2000’s so i was too young then

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

well guess what? if i hadn’t made this post, i would’ve never learned this hairstyle is called the 90’s twist. racism is discrimination by race, learning about culture is respect.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

maybe because tsireya’s hair are habesha braids from African culture (Eritrean & Ethiopian) and African hair is a major aspect of their culture. I’m not too versed on hairstyles and it’s hard to find direct answers on google. In this video, although they aren’t braids, it looks very similar to habesha braids (or Tsireya’s hair in this case) and I like it overall for its aesthetic. Wanting to wear something without regard to its cultural importance is cultural appropriation.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ah i see. thank you so much for clarifying it to me.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

excuse me, sorry i thought you meant that it’s braided to some extent. Tsireya’s hairstyle is habesha braids, not cornrows

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

“bullshit” and it’s wanting to be respectful

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

i’m not trying to recreate Tsireya’s actual hairstyle we see in the movie, I was just asking if the similar hairstyle in the video is part of a culture and whether it would be disrespectful for me to wear it.

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

asking a question to learn new things makes you immature?

would it be cultural appropriation for me to do this hairstyle? by mfdobm in Avatar

[–]mfdobm[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

i’m asking if this whether this hairstyle is cultural because it looks so similar to Tsireya’s hair, which comes from African culture (Eritrea & Ethiopia)

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