So why can’t I wear it?
- Headdresses promote stereotyping of Native cultures.
The image of a warbonnet and warpaint wearing Indian is one that has been created and perpetuated by Hollywood and only bears minimal resemblance to traditional regalia of Plains tribes. It furthers the stereotype that Native peoples are one monolithic culture, when in fact there are 500+ distinct tribes with their own cultures. It also places Native people in the historic past, as something that cannot exist in modern society. We don’t walk around in ceremonial attire everyday, but we still exist and are still Native.
- Headdresses, feathers, and warbonnets have deep spiritual significance.
The wearing of feathers and warbonnets in Native communities is not a fashion choice. Eagle feathers are presented as symbols of honor and respect and have to be earned. Some communities give them to children when they become adults through special ceremonies, others present the feathers as a way of commemorating an act or event of deep significance. Warbonnets especially are reserved for respected figures of power. The other issue is that warbonnets are reserved for men in Native communities, and nearly all of these pictures show women sporting the headdresses. I can’t read it as an act of feminism or subverting the patriarchal society, it’s an act of utter disrespect for the origins of the practice. (see my post on sweatlodges for more on the misinterpretation of the role of women). This is just as bad as running around in a pope hat and a bikini, or a Sikh turban cause it’s “cute”.
- It’s just like wearing blackface.
“Playing Indian” has a long history in the United States, all the way back to those original tea partiers in Boston, and in no way is it better than minstral shows or dressing up in blackface. You are pretending to be a race that you are not, and are drawing upon stereotypes to do so. Like my first point said, you’re collapsing distinct cultures, and in doing so, you’re asserting your power over them. Which leads me to the next issue.
- There is a history of genocide and colonialism involved that continues today.
By the sheer fact that you live in the United States you are benefiting from the history of genocide and continued colonialism of Native peoples. That land you’re standing on? Indian land. Taken illegally so your ancestor who came to the US could buy it and live off it, gaining valuable capital (both monetary and cultural) that passed down through the generations to you. Have I benefited as well, given I was raised in a white, suburban community? yes. absolutely. but by dismissing and minimizing the continued subordination and oppression of Natives in the US by donning your headdress, you are contributing to the culture of power that continues the cycle today.But I don’t mean it in that way, I just think it’s cute!
- Well hopefully I’ve illuminated that there’s more at play here than just a “cute” fashion choice. Sorry for taking away your ignorance defense.
But I consider it honoring to Native Americans!
- I think that this cartoon is a proper answer, but I’ll add that having a drunken girl wearing a headdress and a bikini dancing at an outdoor concert does not honor me. I remember reading somewhere that it was also “honoring the fine craftsmanship of Native Americans”. Those costume shop chicken feather headdresses aren’t honoring Native craftsmanship. And you will be very hard pressed to find a Native artist who is closely tied to their community making headdresses for sale. See the point about their sacredness and significance.
I’m just wearing it because it’s “ironic”!
- I’m all for irony. Finger mustaches, PBR, kanye glasses, old timey facial hair, 80’s spandex—fine, funny, a bit over-played, but ironic, I guess. Appropriating someone’s culture and cavorting around town in your skinny jeans with a feathered headdress, moccasins, and turquoise jewelry in an attempt to be ‘counterculture’? Not ironic. If you’re okay with being a walking representative of 500+ years of colonialism and racism, or don’t mind perpetuating the stereotypes that we as Native people have been fighting against for just as long, by all means, go for it. But by embracing the current tribal trends you aren’t asserting yourself as an individual, you are situating yourself in a culture of power that continues to oppress Native peoples in the US. And really, if everyone is doing it, doesn’t that take away from the irony? am I missing the point on the irony? maybe. how is this even ironic? I’m starting to confuse myself. but it’s still not a defense.
Stop getting so defensive, it’s seriously just fashion!
- Did you read anything I just wrote? It’s not “just” fashion. There is a lot more at play here. This is a matter of power and who has the right to represent my culture. (I also enjoy asking myself questions that elicit snarky answers.)
What about the bigger issues in Indian Country? Poverty, suicide rates, lack of resources, disease, etc? Aren’t those more important that hipster headdresses?
- Yes, absolutely. But, I’ll paraphrase Jess Yee in this post, and say these are very real issues and challenges in our communities, but when the only images of Natives that Americans see are incorrect, and place Natives in the historic past, it erases our current presence, and makes it impossible for the current issues to exist in the collective American consciousness. Our cultures and lives are something that only exist in movies or in the past, not today. So it’s a cycle, and in order to break that cycle, we need to question and interrogate the stereotypes and images that erase our current presence—while we simultaneously tackle the pressing issues in Indian Country. They’re closely linked, and at least this is a place to start.
Well then, Miss Cultural Appropriation Police, what CAN I wear?
- If you choose to wear something Native, buy it from a Native. There are federal laws that protect Native artists and craftspeople who make genuine jewelry, art, etc. (see info here about The Indian Arts and Crafts Act). Anything you buy should have a label that says “Indian made” or “Native made”. Talk to the artist. find out where they’re from. Be diligent. Don’t go out in a full “costume”. It’s ok to have on some beaded earrings or a turquoise ring, but don’t march down the street wearing a feather, with loaded on jewelry, and a ribbon shirt. Ask yourself: if you ran into a Native person, would you feel embarrassed or feel the need to justify yourself? As commenter Bree pointed out, it’s ok to own a shirt with kimono sleeves, but you wouldn’t go out wearing full kabuki makeup to a bar. Just take a minute to question your sartorial choices before you go out.
…and an editorial comment: I should also note that I have absolutely nothing against hipsters. In fact, some would argue I have hipster-leaning tendencies. In my former San Francisco life, had been known to have a drink or two in the clouds of smoke outside at Zeitgeist, and enjoyed shopping on Haight street. I enjoy drinking PBR out of the can when I go to the dive bars near my apartment where I throw darts and talk about sticking it to ‘The Man’. I own several fringed hipster scarves, more than one pair of ironic fake ray-ban wayfarers, and two plaid button downs. I’m also not trying to stereotype and say that all hipsters do/wear the above, just like not every hipster thinks it’s cool to wear a headdress. So, I don’t hate hipsters, I hate ignorance and cultural appropriation. There is a difference. Just thought I should clear that up.
Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a LIIIIITTTLLLE bit. There are is a lot of fashion that is directly influenced by certain culture, religion, and class. The color purple is meant to be worn by royal religious figures but I can wear purple all day if I want. I love the color. The whole scarf fad started in Palestine. I’m not sure of the exact facts of this but I know wearing a certain printed scarf that is pretty popular in America means you support or don’t support something in Palestine. There is a brutal war going on in that part of the world in case you didn’t know. I think you should just relax about the rant. Let people be and stop judging them over trivial ignorance.
It seems like every time someone points out insensitivity or ignorance, there’s always a rallying cry of “you’re overreacting.” And none of people voicing that opinion seem to realize that it’s coming from a place of privilege.
And yes, “there is a brutal war going on in part of the word” — um, there’s conflict in more places than one right now. But does one conflict, or one war cancel out every other issue out there? If a woman gets raped in the US, do you tell her it’s not important because of the Israeli Palestine conflict? If something needs to be adressed, it needs to be addressed, wether it’s cultural misappropriation or a cross-country war.
And as for the keffiyeh, I don’t see anything in this post that says that’s okay either. Nowhere does it say, “Hey white hipster girl, why don’t you wear a keffiyeh instead of that headdress.” That’s an issue that can be addressed too.
first off, why the fuck does it matter what the hell she does? to the point where you have to drag her down to get a useless point across? will it make your fucking day to bring her down? and then second no, it’s not fucking illegal and statutory rape with her and her boyfriend…
feed-your-sins:You done yet?
Also, few things:-It matters because her fans look up to her and they’ll think it’s okay (like you, for example). Do you think it’s okay to starve yourself and not eat to be skinny, photoshop your photos to make others think you’re perfect, and have sex with and over age person while you’re under age?
-I’m not “bringing her down”, I’m showing her for who she is. Sorry you can’t get it through your thick skull.
-Regarding the “in most states you have to be 16” no. In Arizona, you have to be 18 to have any sort of sexual contact with someone over the age of 18. Allison said she met him and did sexual things with him while she was 17. Plus, the age difference for it to be statutory rape in Arizona is two years (see “Age Differential between victim and defendant”). She’s 18. He’s what? 23? It’s statutory rape, m’dear.
-Allison isn’t happy with herself lol. Why else would she be starving herself, honestly? Happy people don’t starve and photoshop themselves.
-I’m not an anon, sorry. I’ve shown myself many times before, and if you see this on your dash (or anyone who follows me) I have the author icons enabled. I’m also far from jealous of her. I’d rather be ‘ugly’ by your standards and happy than ‘perfect’ by your standards and anorexic. Sorry, but I’ve been there before and I know she’s just doing it for attention (miss “omg im so ugly” -spams 30498942 photos of herself-)Sorry, but I’m far from jealous, miserable, or pathetic. I’m happy with my life. I have a fiance who loves me, a beautiful son who’s almost here and a job I can come back to once he’s born. I may not be well off but we (my fiance and I) work our asses off to support people. We’re not like Allison, who gets everything handed to her so she’ll shut up for a minute and stop complaining about it.
I hope your baby gets an eating disorder so you’ll learn something about them.This whole thing is some straight bullshit.How old are you having your little shot gun wedding? Who cares about age difference some parents have an 18 year difference. Do you have any idea of how many people do this?Its simply normal. How many celebrities do this? Your a fucking idiot. You think just because you having a fucking bastard it gives you the right to post online rants like this? You know people actually read them if I was her and read all the shit your talking on your blog I would have developed a mental disorder though I believe you already have one.Like whoa! How do you know for a fact that she gets everything handed to her? You sound a little bit envious.How do you know shes starving herself and didn’t get that skinny by getting taller, a faster metabolism, simply working out and eating healthier, loosing baby weight since she is young.Just let her be happy,shit. Your the biggest hater I’ve ever come across on tumblr. All that was her past shes eighteen legal why are you still commenting on her relationship that shit should be done.Your constantly boosting her name, you making her bigger and her photos in more places so uh wasn’t that the opposite of what you were trying to do which is get her permanently deleted off the internet like its truly going to happen somewhere in that messed up mind of yours. Why are you trying to give her shit about her life when you don’t know shit about her life. Your judging her by her cover you obviously not some little kid. Who the fuck wants to be ugly?That’s a boldface lie. Lol Your child’s going to turn out like the person you dislike the most watch because of how much your talking about her now all the things your saying about Allison is going to happen to your child and cyber bullying is only getting worse. I hope you have a fucking miscarriage :] or if that baby makes its way through full term I hope you have a still birth and you die in the process also. Lmfao hahaha! I only wish the worse on you.
“I hope your baby gets an eating disorder” No. Stop right fucking there. Just stop right fucking there. Who are you to wish something like that upon my son? It’s also next to impossible; eating disorders don’t happen often with men. I’ve had an eating disorder. I know how it works.
“How old are you having your shotgun wedding?” I’m 23, thank you. That’s more than old enough to have a wedding compared to some other people.
“Who cares about age difference? Some parents have an 18 year difference.” Irrelevant information. Allison Kate isn’t a parent, now is she? Allison Kate wasn’t born somewhere between 1930-1960, in which girls were forced to marry someone who was years older than them. Allison Kate wasn’t 18 when she started dating him. To me (and a hell of a lot of other people) that’s wrong, disgusting, gross, illegal by Arizona standards, and stupid. It’s not normal, it’s not okay, and it’s definitely not legal. Allison Kate isn’t a celebrity, and I don’t care who the celebrity is, they’re over the age of 18 and by legal standards can make their own decisions. Allison wasn’t, and if there is substantial evidence, someone, anyone could call Arizona State Police and have him arrested for statutory rape (since it hasn’t been five years since it happened, it’s been less than one), and corruption of a minor.
“You think just because you having a fucking bastard it gives you the right to post online rants like this?” No, I think that because I am a human being and because I do have a right to post them, I can post them (because there’s no law stating I can’t). They are my opinions (actually, they’re facts that from looking at and examining, I’ve formed an opinion, and it may have been an angry one but it’s still a factual opinion) and I can say what I want. That’s what the internet is for. And instead of doing something far worse than I’m doing (like telling me you hope my baby has an ED and calling me all of these things), you could try to understand them and not be so heated. All it’s doing is making you look incredibly pathetic to defend someone who is literally a narcissist.
“How do you know shes starving herself and didn’t get that skinny by getting taller, a faster metabolism, simply working out and eating healthier, loosing baby weight since she is young?” Well let’s see…
“Pretty big lunch but I’m down for the challenge” how is that a big lunch? That’s not a big lunch. That’s a normal lunch. If that was a big lunch, I’m terrified to know what a “normal” lunch is for her.
If she ate healthy, had a ‘fast metabolism’ and ‘lost baby fat’ she would not look like this:
She would look like she did in her older photos (which are literally only a year or so old):
No one loses about 40 pounds that fast and goes UP a cup size while she’s at it. That’s not baby fat, either; she has a naturally full face.
“Your the biggest hater I’ve ever come across on tumblr. All that was her past shes eighteen legal why are you still commenting on her relationship that shit should be done” And here we have the most common excuse for a snowflake’s actions. It may be the past but it doesn’t matter. She only turned 18 like what, a month or so ago? How is anything before that “the past”? It’s not like it was 4 years ago (like Dakota Rose) or two years ago, no. It was less than a year ago. Like felicefawn.blogspot said, “If telling the truth makes one a hater, then maybe it’s the truth about [Lauren] that makes her so hatable.”
“Who the fuck wants to be ugly?That’s a boldface lie. Lol Your child’s going to turn out like the person you dislike the most watch because of how much your talking about her now all the things your saying about Allison is going to happen to your child and cyber bullying is only getting worse. I hope you have a fucking miscarriage :] or if that baby makes its way through full term I hope you have a still birth and you die in the process also. Lmfao hahaha! I only wish the worse on you.” It’s so easy to hope and wish these things upon someone when you’re nothing but a faceless creature behind a computer screen, isn’t it? This here is proof that you’re another heartless bastard like Allison. You’re a perfect fan for Allison. :)
I’m done here. Insulting me was one thing, but wishing death on a baby and wishing a stillbirth on someone’s child is against the law. I’ve already posted about how it was (on my blog and on my ask), so unless you want to get traced and go to jail, I suggest you stop.
And I hope everyone who reads this realizes just what kind of fans Allison has, and what effect her actions and choices turn these people into. They’re not people (as much as I wish they were), they’re bastards, just like her.
You should never EVER wish death on a baby. Even if what his mother is doing is something you think is wrong its not his fault. He has nothing to do with freelice and I can not even describe how much of a heinous person you have to be to say “I hope you have a stillborn”. Newsflash, You’re fucking despicable.
Who the hell says that about a baby? That’s a line you do not cross. But this person did a freaking barrel roll over it
You know it’s bad if I can’t even blog about it.
My friend just broke up with her boyfriend during a night of violence involving her girl friends, and his roommates. The guy lost his shit. So yeah, she IS better off without him. But for these stupid (and for the most part, unfortunate looking) girls to start spamming FB with their shit talking about her? Her looks, her personality, her parenting skills. No. Not okay. All that coming from a girl who in the first 5 min of meeting me, called me fat and old, because I am not the size 0, 22 year old she is.
I try to stay out of things IRL, but now another girl posted a screencap of another of our friends FB. She posted it right up on tumblr, which is easy to find. Am I next? Those girls cut out people so fast, go from besties to hatred for no reason. Yet they don’t see what they are doing as bad.
Good riddance. You even pushed your boyfriends friends away with your bullshit. (and he was OUR friend) Thanks. Now he has no friends, and the few that he did, will drop him because you can’t keep your shit talking private.
And seriously the only thing any of us can do, is tell you that YES your bf was cheating on you. YES he invited girls over. YES he sent pics of his junk to people. And YES you are a vapid, self absorbed insecure little annoying gnat that we all want to Hulk smash.
Aly’s response to the message I sent her about the baby ‘born without a brain.’ In which she made a rude comment about when a girl posted a video of the baby on her facebook wall. Not really the answer I was hoping for but at least she was honest. She also accepted the fact that it was the wrong thing to do. Her ‘imitating the way the baby acted but not making fun of it’ thing kind of confuses me though. I guess this incident happened awhile ago but I wanted to post her reasons behind it for anyone interested.
Crying when you see someone in a wheelchair is condescending, and so is her “Pray for them,” act.
Also, saying that you weren’t mocking or making fun of someone doesn’t mean you weren’t, because she just described her and her friend mocking the baby. It’s the same as saying “No offense,” doesn’t make anything less offensive.
I wish she would have given an apology, also. She never said she was sorry for the incident, just admitted that it was a terrible thing to say.
At first I was happy with Aly’s new “Good person,” act but now I’m starting to get really annoyed with her. At first I thought she might have changed, but she’s just being condescending.
^^ SO condescending! She never once says she’s sorry even though she’s so blatantly in the wrong.
This girl just needs to stop talking. Her stupidity is unbelievable. She sounds so fucking sheltered and condescending. People in wheelchairs don’t want or need your ~*~tearz~*~ or for you to pray for them. UGH.
Exactly what I thought she’d say. It’s just… not a joke. saying you were not mocking or making a joke about it, but that you DID do things like make jokes and imitated the baby? How is that NOT making a joke out of it.
I have a massive empathy issue. If I drive by a McDonald’s and see an old man inside, eating all by himself, I start to cry “why is he alone, why is he here, why not get drive through and go home? oh gosh he has no family and is all alooooone” Yeah it’s bad. And I do feel emotional when I see people who are disabled (I like handi-capable.) But to make fun of (even if just a little) cuz ya know.. that’s okay and just a slip up in your normally educated mind! Oh and you have disabled people in your family? So do I. And if someone was to “act” like my brother, I would get so heated so fast. This is life. If someone made fun of a a friend of family member of hers, and said “oh it wasn’t really me, I was just joke, but not to make fun of them. Just a joke” would she let that slide?
I don’t usually post about this girl, and I know this is pretty old, but I just saw it.
How unbelievably rude.
I know I submitted this a long time ago and I just had to respond.
WHAT! what??????QUEEE??????? and what makes this worse is he is comparing blacks natural hair to cancer…..which last i checked isn’t all that natural. THEN HAS THE NERVE TO SAY HE/SHE ISN’T A RACIST!!fuuuccckkkkk
Sigh… White people.
this literally makes me want to cry. why is my existence fucking offensive to people? go away.
oh look
some racism
who’s surprised by this, because I’m not. Nappy hair? BUT YOU NOT A RACIST THOUGH.
Go sit with the other racists, because no one wants to talk to you at the intelligent table.“runaway slaves”.
Excuse me while I vomit my lunch up in this motherfucker’s shoes.I fail to see exactly what is wrong with her hair? She looks lovely. It wouldn’t look right if it were poker-straight. Just I wouldn’t look right with hair like hers (I’m a white female, btw). I honestly despair for the human race if we are going to discriminate against each other over something as trivial as hair colour/style/texture (I’m looking at you as well, ginger haters!). Grow the fuck up, and find something actually worth worrying about.
Had a very fun, long, crazy weekend. But when I signed in today and was trying to catch up on what happened this weekend, it seems pretty calm. Well that’s good! lol
Rich’s instagram
This. If she “found out” when she was leaving for this trip, and knew they couldn’t really talk about it… why post it online. It sucks when stuff like this happens, and can rip your heart out. But it’s true that she did the same thing with Andy before. Even if they “were on a break” it still hurts.
She shouldn’t have said anything. Because no people will be attacking Rich, who should be allowed to discuss it like an adult, privately with Felice. She said something that was a private matter, out loud on the internet, knowing full well that she can’t figure things out with Rich, or be online 24/7 to handle the questions and rage that her fans are probably feeling.
It’s just not a fair or adult way of handling things. I do not believe she gathered all this information from reading 1 email that he left open. It’s fishy to me. It may be true, it may not be. Either way it is their relationship and should he handled between the two of them. All she did by posting about it, is making her fans want to defend her, and attack him. Which is not a healthy way to handle a relationship.
Sadly, it does seem like these girls do not have a lot of friends. Not that it’s a big deal, but for the most part they never really talked about people they hung out with. The parents seemed strict about things (and that’s okay, in some cases) it just seemed like they spent most of their time together, on cam, or taking photos and posting them online. (You probably don’t let your under 16yo daughters go out and have friends, but you allow them to post suggestive pictures onto a website where there are a bunch of creepers?)
Dakota goes through phases for her style. We’ve all seen the changes she’s made while growing up, and figuring out what photoshopped type she’d like to be. The looks before this super Kawaii doll stuff, was much more harsh. Darker hair, bolder make up. I didn’t like it at all. But from her to go from that look, to the super doll like look, it suddenly DID make her look younger. I’m really bad with ages but it seems like she has been 16 forever. If that’s the case she was 10 in 2006? Too young for myspace. And she was probably on it before that too.
Ewww the word sexy with them… nooo. At least Venus’ mother (as batshit as she is) states that they do NOT want to “sex it up” with Venus. Of course some people will be into it, but they do not over do it, like Dakota with the totally enhanced cleavage shots.
I swear those girls never age. Or they do at a very slow pace. Back in the myspace days, they were young, too young to be on myspace. There was a rule that you had to be a certain age, like 13 maybe. So maybe Kiki was 13. But Dakota was too young. I want to say that Kiki is 19 or 20. Which would blow my mind. It was written on the police report, but I wasn’t paying attention to her age.
cathyostrengastfureloaded replied to your post: Just a thought.
My eyes are a bit different too!! I was never insecure about it though because people always told me I’ve had beautiful eyes. Fuck yeah mismatching proportions. .
:) asymmetrical pride!
Haha I hate when things don’t get fact checked. There is plenty of info about her on the internet. And the fact that she is NOT from SF, thank goodness. This was all about the “living doll” hullabaloo right? So freaking ridiculous.
