There are days I’m convinced that the entire Internet has lost its collective mind. Not even teenagers are safe from social media trolls. Sometimes something as trivial as an outfit will have people up in arms, as 18-year-old Keziah Daum learned when she posted pictures of her prom dress to social media. Ms. Daum chose to wear an Asian-inspired dress that was perfectly appropriate for the occasion. However, many social media users took offense and blasted the teenager for “cultural appropriation.” Daum stood her ground though, explaining that she meant no harm.
Despite the criticism in the United States, Keziah Daum’s dress received approval and praise from many residents in China. According to one fashion blogger, the style of dress Daum wore has no sacred significance within Chinese culture. Many Asians expressed their approval of Daum wearing the dress, pointing out that the Chinese population wears Western clothing. The fact that our own American society can be so short-sighted makes me question the mob mentality of social media even more. Keziah Daum chose to celebrate a beautiful style of clothing that’s native to Asia. Nothing about what she wore ties into any religious beliefs or significant cultural customs.
The story of the Chinese prom dress worn by @daumkeziah that angered a mob of American online activists has reached China. The South China Morning Post reports on how the high schooler is receiving outpouring of support there. https://t.co/mrjcPK1vhC
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) May 2, 2018
The way this young girl was hounded over a dress shows how out of touch some Americans are with facts and their own cultural backgrounds. The post that kick-started the outrage read, “My culture is NOT your prom dress.” Pretty ignorant considering the poster was not only a man, but an uninformed one. Of all the issues currently facing America, cultural appropriation doesn’t fall at the top of my list. It’s a weak description meant to cause outrage among the social justice crew over white people exploring cultures. While I do occasionally cringe over certain behaviors involving other cultures, this is not one of those incidents. Perhaps those who are offended should do some more studying on their own culture for further education.
What offends me more is seeing the inappropriate dresses many high school girls are wearing these days. However, saying something about that will spark controversy over “telling a woman how to dress.” Someone might even be blasted for “sexualizing children” for speaking disapproval over revealing dresses. Keziah Daum expressed her excitement over finding a beautiful dress that actually covered her body. It’s disheartening to see her bullied instead of celebrated. The same styles have always been around in the Western world. In fact, many dresses like the one Daum wore to prom can be purchased from Asian merchants in the United States.
I was very happy to see that Keziah Daum didn’t give into hatred that was heaped on her. She made a simple Twitter post stating that her intentions weren’t bad and basically left it at that. She also said she’d do it again. I can’t imagine being young in the age of social media. Every post is up for scrutiny and criticism. The stakes are so much higher today for kids in terms of politics. When a prom dress garners more attention than current events or world news, something seriously wrong is going on with millennials.
