The Difference Between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation

An interesting read on a discussion of cultural exchange vs appropriation and what they both mean.

"Where do we draw the line between “appropriate” forms of cultural exchange and more damaging patterns of cultural appropriation?
To be honest, I don’t know that there is a thin, straight line between them.

But even if the line between exchange and appropriation bends, twists, and loop-de-loops in ways it would take decades of academic thought to unpack, it has a definite starting point:Respect."

"What Cultural Exchange Is Not

One of the reasons that cultural appropriation is a hard concept to grasp for so many is that Westerners are used to pressing their own culture onto others and taking what they want in return.

True cultural exchange is not the process of “Here’s my culture, I’ll have some of yours” that we sometimes think it is. It’s something that should be mutual."

What Cultural Exchange Can Look Like

There needs to be some element of mutual understanding, equality, and respect for it to be a true exchange.

That’s what cultural exchange can look like – engaging with a culture as a respectful and humble guest, invitation only.

http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/09/cultural-exchange-and-cultural-appropriation/