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HelpRe: Honest Question About Cultural Appropriation and Names
in reply to a message by RuralRuna
I think both sides are potentially at fault here. The European couple because they are using a name from a culture not their own, but more because, presumably, they know nothing of that culture or language or the name; if they have some connections or knowledge of those things, I say it's less of a problem. Also, if they think they made the name up and it coincidentally turned out to be a real name in some language, well, I guess lots of names people think they've made up turn out to mean something in some other language, whether an actual name or some random word like stomachache or chair. :)
I think the Native woman is at fault for trying to convince these people not to use a certain name. Beyond pointing out the obvious-to-her, she should butt out unless asked for her opinion; that would go for anyone of any ethnicity. It's fine on a message board where most of the people supposedly asking for names for their new twin girls are actually bored 12-year-olds playing grownup.
I also think she's at fault if she truly believes that culture can be "stolen" if someone uses a name of that culture without being part of it. It's a little like how some kids feel when a new baby or new stepparent comes along: they think that that their parent's love is finite and there's only so much to go around and with New Baby or New Stepparent, there's less love around for them.
This white couple uses the name Naiara for the new baby. Maiara doesn't leave the culture it originated from. It's still as much a name in that language as it ever was, and it's realistically highly unlikely that it suddenly catches on with white people and becomes widely known and used.
At worst, I think the couple is being presumptuous and pretentious and maybe not considering the optics of it.
There is always going to be crossover and borrowing among different cultures.
I am Native/Indian myself so I think I'm qualified to speak here. :)
Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin
I think the Native woman is at fault for trying to convince these people not to use a certain name. Beyond pointing out the obvious-to-her, she should butt out unless asked for her opinion; that would go for anyone of any ethnicity. It's fine on a message board where most of the people supposedly asking for names for their new twin girls are actually bored 12-year-olds playing grownup.
I also think she's at fault if she truly believes that culture can be "stolen" if someone uses a name of that culture without being part of it. It's a little like how some kids feel when a new baby or new stepparent comes along: they think that that their parent's love is finite and there's only so much to go around and with New Baby or New Stepparent, there's less love around for them.
This white couple uses the name Naiara for the new baby. Maiara doesn't leave the culture it originated from. It's still as much a name in that language as it ever was, and it's realistically highly unlikely that it suddenly catches on with white people and becomes widely known and used.
At worst, I think the couple is being presumptuous and pretentious and maybe not considering the optics of it.
There is always going to be crossover and borrowing among different cultures.
I am Native/Indian myself so I think I'm qualified to speak here. :)
Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin
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