How Bindi Influence American Culture

Bindi-ing the Rules? “This is so hipster!” Says the White girl as she stares at herself in the mirror wearing a jewel in between her eyebrows and appropriating Hinduism at the same time. Culture appropriation has become a common issue in the 21st century fashion world. Culture appropriation is when a more dominant culture takes a significant element from another culture (usually minority) and represents it in a negative context (Fager). Symbolizing the element negatively can be damaging and dishonoring the culture the ritual is taken from (Fager). A bindi is an ornamental mark worn in the middle of the forehead by Indian women. Bindis nowadays are used as a fashion statement and sexualized (Alpert). Stealing from another
British control over India is something that will never be forgotten, at least by South Asians of course. Therefore taking something as significant as the bindi, and turning it into a fashion statement is detrimental (Sundaresh). Some say its Indians should be flattered that Indian culture is positively influencing American culture, but this response glosses over the history of race and white privilege in American society (Sundaresh). The bindi was introduced to pop culture in America when Madonna and Gwen Stefani brought it into the eye of the public back in the 90’s. Not too log ago actress/singer Selena Gomez debuted it at the MTV Video Awards. She wore a red bindi and performed to her single “Come & Get it.” Several Hindu leaders were offended and demanded an apology because her act was insensitive and vulgar (Hindustan
If these same Indian woman were to wear a bindi in America, they are made fun of and mocked for having a “dot” on their head. It’s a bold new look on pop star Selena Gomez, but on Indian woman it’s a symbol of my failure to assimilate. On other people its unquestionably cool, but on South Asian woman it something that confirms their “otherness”. The use of the bindi by mainstream pop stars doesn’t make life easier for woman. They lend the bindi an aura of cool that a South Asian woman simply can’t compete with, often with the privilege of automatic acceptance in a society when many non-white women must fight for it