Wednesday 8 June 2016

"nonasiansarecutetoo" ok???

Although this account could be a windup to create controversy, this is a perfect example of cultural appropriation, eurocentrism and racism. This girl made an instagram account with the username “nonasiansarecutetoo”, and the account claimed that non asian girls can rock the “asian style” better than asian girls can. This obviously sparked a lot of controversy and anger in the asian community. She tried to defend herself by saying that “asian” is just a “style” just like how goth is a style. She claims that she isn’t being racist because if a Korean girl living in Korea “tries to be white”, she isn’t racist, but when a white girl tries to look more Korean, it is racist. She tries to stand up to the “bullies” who think that Asian girls are the only ones who can rock “Asian style” and puts up pictures of a non Asian girl and an Asian girl comparing the two and pointing out that the non Asian girl wears the culture better. I quote, “This account is to show that non asians can slay east asian style too”. This is wrong on so many levels.







The Asian culture isn't a dress up game where you can pick and choose when and what you want to wear, there is a difference between non Asians and Asian. Asians are BORN with the culture, we are SUPPOSED to wear what is culturally appropriate, we are not doing it to pass time.


This is cultural appropriation. It is cultural appropriation when non asians think they are better than asians at being asians. It's cultural appropriation when you claim asian inventions, praise them on non-asians but criticise them on actual asians. It is OK to enjoy these things, it is not cultural appropriation to like “asian music” or “asian style” whatever that is and whatever that means, however, having the audacity to claim that non Asians can also be Asian, but also rock the style BETTER than Asians, is a pretty bold statement.




This is an example of someone forcing eurocentric beauty standards onto asians. As an asian, I do not want to be colonised into a culture that disrespect our cultures. This reduces the palette of beautiful cultures Asia has to just korea, japan, china and the small majority of asian cultures, western societies CHOOSE to enjoy. Asia is more than just Japan, Korea and China. This account literally said “Non Asian girls with Asian style can look better than any cute Korean or Japanese gals. You get mocked for liking Asian style? This page is for you”. This is also a perfect example of Yellowface and how it takes something as simple as makeup, style and music to suddenly be considered apart of the Asian culture. I am not saying the Asian culture is not allowed to be shared and enjoyed throughout the world, I am simply saying that Asian cultures are not non Asian cultures to colonise and claim.

Since when did contacts, dyed hair and a certain way of doing your makeup define the asian culture as a whole. You mean to tell me that not only is it this easy to become "Asian", but it is also this easy to become better than Asians too.

1 comment:

  1. Yes! I saw this too! My friend is a listener of kpop and she linked me about posts surrounding this. I'm simply baffled as to how people think it is perfectly fine to act upon the so called characteristics of one race simply because they have a liking to it. I do know if this were the reverse then people would simply let it slide. Unfortunately, many cannot differentiate between appreciation and appropriation. It just downgrades and demolishes the efforts put in place by girls who struggle with their image. This is just disgusting.

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