A high school student who wore a qipao dress to her prom is being accused of “cultural appropriation”.
18-year-old high school student Keziah Daum is being accused of “cultural appropriation” after she posted pictures of herself wearing a traditional Chinese dress known as a qipao to her prom.
In her post on Twitter, Daum shared four images of herself dressed in a red silky Chinese qipao. One picture features Daum with a group of formally dressed students posing with their hands together and knees bent.
Many were quick to criticise Daum through Twitter.
“My culture is not your… prom dress,” wrote one Twitter user.
“This isn’t ok,” wrote another. “I wouldn’t wear traditional Korean, Japanese or any other traditional dress and I’m Asian. I wouldn’t wear traditional Irish or Swedish or Greek dress either. There’s a lot of history behind these clothes. Sad.”
“If you ‘appreciate’ and ‘love’ our culture, you’d know it’s a traditional gown,” tweeted another. “Yet you claim ‘it’s just a dress’… What you said shows no appreciation but shows plenty of appropriation.”
PROM pic.twitter.com/gsJ0LtsCmP
— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 22, 2018
In response, Daum tweeted, “To everyone causing so much negativity: I mean no disrespect to the Chinese culture. I’m simply showing my appreciation to their culture. I’m not deleting my post because I’ve done nothing but show my love for the culture. It’s a… dress. And it’s beautiful.”
Some also supported the teenager. “You look gorgeous and the dress is stunning!” wrote one Twitter user. “What a wonderful world we live in where we can share culture and dress in special design and style from across the world representing the culture of Earth and the art of humanity.”
“Teenage girls go through a lot of struggles with acceptance and self-esteem so I’m glad that thousands of people are using their Twitter to support… calling this random girl racist because she committed the grievous sin of wearing Chinese clothing to the prom,” wrote another.
Earlier this month Resonate writer Dee Wu wrote a feature about the history of the qipao. Click here to read it.
This isn’t ok. I wouldn’t wear traditional Korean, Japanese or any other traditional dress and I’m Asian. I wouldn’t wear traditional Irish or Swedish or Greek dress either. There’s a lot of history behind these clothes. Sad.
— Jeannie (@JeannieBeanie99) April 28, 2018
You look gorgeous and the dress is stunning! What a wonderful world we live in where we can share culture and dress in special design and style from across the world representing the culture of Earth and the art of humanity. ❤️
— Jerris (@jboezoe) April 28, 2018
she was probably one of the white girls who mocked my friends for henna or traditional religious attire, considering the mocking pose as well in said photos
— emily (@emmaleerose_) April 28, 2018
My people wear “western culture” because colonizers came onto our land and forced us to assimilate and adopt their culture/ way of life; just like they did with every culture they invaded. But you know #history ♂️
— Tui Viti (@Tui_Viti) April 30, 2018
If you “appreciate” and “love” our culture, you’d know it’s a traditional gown. Yet you claim, “it’s just a dress”. It has cultural meaning and significance to us. What you said shows no appreciation but shows plenty of appropriation.
— megs (@Megan_Phung) April 28, 2018
To everyone causing so much negativity: I mean no disrespect to the Chinese culture. I’m simply showing my appreciation to their culture. I’m not deleting my post because I’ve done nothing but show my love for the culture. It’s a fucking dress. And it’s beautiful.
— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 28, 2018
I think it’s pretty. Not sure why so much hate. Wear what makes you feel good.
— Jen (@JenniferWolff17) April 29, 2018
How ridiculous. Should we not eat Chinese food or Chinese people not wear trainers? Let’s embrace but be respectful and surely there isn’t a problem.
— Lisa Humphries (@LisaHumphries17) April 30, 2018
