How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation in Travel

Last Updated on July 23, 2023

It can be tough to identify cultural appropriation in travel. That’s because cultural appropriation is nuanced, and can be confused with cultural appreciation.

When you get to experience a new culture, it can be tempting to bring aspects of that culture home with you. When I think back on my travels, I’ve definitely been guilty of this.

But is that always a bad thing? What is the difference between appropriation, and appreciation? How can we be respectful of the cultures we engage with abroad? 

Cultural appropriation is when somebody adopts aspects of a culture that’s not their own. It becomes controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from minority cultures.

A classic example of cultural appropriation is when non-Indigenous people wear Indigenous dress as a costume – for Halloween, or maybe to a festival.

Since cultural appropriation is a complex issue with lots of grey areas, I got in contact with someone who could help unpack it: Melissa Chan. Melissa holds a PhD in East Asian Languages and Cultures from the University of Southern California. She has done research on cultural appropriation throughout her academic studies, and has spoken at conferences and to the media on the topic. 

I interviewed Melissa for an episode of my responsible travel podcast so that I could learn about cultural appropriation. You can listen to that episode here!

Read on to learn ways to be respectful of other cultures not just when traveling, but at home as well. By learning about cultural appropriation in travel, we can become more responsible tourists!

What is Cultural Appropriation?

Cambridge University defines cultural appropriation as the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.

In my discussion with Melissa, she emphasized that cultural appropriation is about more than adopting aspects of someone else’s culture, it refers to a power dynamic.

That dynamic is one in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people that have been systematically oppressed by that or another dominant group. 

To understand cultural appropriation we first have to acknowledge hierarchies of power. – Melissa Chan

So what is a dominant culture? A dominant culture is one whose values, language, and ways of behaving are imposed on a subordinate culture or cultures through economic or political power. This binary of dominant and non-dominant culture is very much a legacy of colonialism. 

For example, Europeans colonized Canada and the United States, and when they did that they became the dominant culture, by force. This history of colonization is why Indigenous people in both countries continue to experience systemic racism and social inequality.

Many people still ignore the fact that Indigenous people and a long history of colonization exists in Canada and the United States.

This history of colonization means that when non-Indigenous people use parts of Indigenous culture as a costume (for example), they are displaying ignorance of this history. It shows that people continue to disregard Indigenous voices, personhood, and a long history of trauma.

It can seem completely harmless to participate in a cultural practice that’s not your own, or to wear a piece of cultural clothing, but doing that without consent and respect can have a negative impact.

First, it can be problematic because it upholds the power dynamics that contribute to the systemic oppression of marginalized groups. Second, it risks perpetuating misconceptions and stereotypes about marginalized cultures. 

Difference Between Cultural Appreciation and Cultural Appropriation

One of the reasons cultural appropriation in travel presents so many grey areas is that it is easily confused with cultural appreciation. The main difference is that cultural appropriation does not seek permission, whereas cultural appreciation does. 

Cultural appreciation is all about expressing a willingness to learn and admire another culture with that culture’s guidance and consent. And, taking the time to learn about the tradition or object you are appreciating.

The goal of cultural appreciation is to earn a better understanding of a culture, and embracing it in a respectful manner.

A great example of cultural appreciation? Taking a local cooking class while abroad! This gives you an opportunity to engage with someone from that local culture, and learn from them directly about their culture and cuisine. 

There is also cultural exchange. In this form of engagement, the goal is to embark in a mutually respectful journey of being invited in, engaging with, and, in the process, learning about each other. In a true exchange, you give something and receive another thing in return. 

There’s a line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. – Melissa Chan

Cultural Appropriation in Travel 

According to Melissa, travel changes the cultural boundaries that we experience at home. It provides an amazing opportunity to learn about cultures that are different from our own, and the best part is, we can learn directly from members of that culture. 

There is definitely a bit more risk of cultural appropriation when we travel just because of this proximity to a new or different culture. It can be very tempting to bring an item or tradition that you encounter home with you.

And that isn’t always a bad thing, it’s just about ensuring the process in which you do it is respectful, and that respect continues indefinitely.  

How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation While Traveling

Melissa says that her favorite strategy for respectful cultural engagement is to open up lines of communication with members of other cultures.

For example, she says, if you find something that is part of Indian culture interesting, your first reaction shouldn’t be to immediately begin using it for your own purposes.

Instead, reach out to a friend or peer who is part of the Indian culture and community to ask questions and learn about that thing you are interested in. By doing this, you are communicating rather than co-opting.

When you’re traveling, you have unlimited opportunities to communicate with people who are part of the culture you’re visiting! Take these opportunities to have meaningful conversations.

Engaging with new cultures respectfully is all about dialogue – both with yourself, and with members of the culture that you are encountering.

Tips to Avoid Cultural Appropriation

Aside from having dialogue with the culture you’re visiting, you can have dialogue with yourself. One of the best ways to avoid cultural appropriation in travel is to actively ask yourself constructive, self-reflective questions.

Take a moment to question why and how you are participating in a tradition or culture. Here are some questions that Melissa says we can ask ourselves: 

• Am I participating in a tradition, or wearing traditional clothing, out of honor or imitation?
• Am I being invited to participate? 
• Am I participating in this practice or using this object for personal, financial, or social gain?
• Am I aware of the significance, meaning, and history of this tradition or object? 
• Am I participating to learn about a culture? 
• Or am I perpetuating a stereotype?
• Am I doing this as a personal opportunity to experience another culture, or am I doing this for the photo I’ll post on social media later?
• In what situation am I? Is this a learning experience, or am I using this culture as a costume?

Melissa says that it’s important to think about the process, not just your intentions or motivations. That’s because good intentions don’t mean we won’t accidentally cause harm or offend. So when you’re considering if something is cultural appropriation or not, focus on how you are participating as well as what your intentions are.

Thinking about whether your actions are respectful, and considering the context you’re in, as well as your overall motivations, are all important when thinking about whether you are culturally appropriating. 

Final Thoughts: Cultural Appropriation and Travel

Travel creates many opportunities to experience diverse cultures and traditions that are different from our own. It’s one of the most exciting parts of travel.

You can see how other people live, learn about it, and in some cases participate in that culture. But it’s important to engage with new cultures with care, because there’s always a risk of cultural appropriation. 

My discussion with Melissa had me thinking a bit about something I’ve seen brought up a lot in discussions about doing anti-racist work. And that’s the idea of considering intent versus impact.

Intent is important, yes, but it’s equally important to consider the process of an action, and the impact of that action. By thinking about the impact of our actions, we’re centering the experience of other people instead of centering ourselves. 

In wrapping up our chat, Melissa explained that appropriation is really only acceptable on an invitation basis. So when you find yourself interested in an object or tradition while traveling, ask yourself whether or not you’re being invited to participate and appreciate.

Think about the impact your actions may have, open up dialogue, and listen.

More responsible travel tips!

• How be a More Responsible Tourist
• Your Guide to Unpacking Travel Privilege
• Why is Sustainable Tourism Important?

Other helpful resources for learning about cultural appropriation:

• What’s Wrong with Cultural Appropriation? These 9 Answers Reveal Its Harm
• Cultural Appropriation | Watch The Series | What I Hear When You Say 
• But I didn’t mean it! Why it’s so hard to prioritize impacts over intents.

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