Sarong or So Wrong?

[Tobus]

Ahh, but there's the rub. You, me, everyone, all have the choice to participate in any culture -- whether it be by attire, food, language, dance... By eating at an Italian restaurant you are participating in Italian culture. I have never heard anyone say: "Um, can we not go to Luigi's Pizza? I just don't feel culturally entitled to eat Italian food. I'm not Italian." That would be really odd.

So why are there such hang-ups about attire? ith:

That's a very interesting sociological question, and I think it really boils down to whether a person feels like they belong to a particular culture that is their "home base", or whether they feel free to roam amongst other cultures (in the context of food, language, dress, religion, or what-have-you).

Most people grew up in a particular culture and that is who they are. They might identify with other cultures that are a part of their family history, or cultures that they have lived in (like you, CDNSushi, living in Japan and being immersed in that culture). But it does seem a little odd for a person to randomly decide to identify himself with a culture that he has zero ties to. Eating their food is not really applicable, as it's simply a form of enjoying what the culture has to offer for an evening, and not identifying oneself as a part of it.

And really, that's what this comes down to. Clothing is an identifier of who you are. It always has been. And while there is no particular "rule" against it, wearing the clothing of another culture that one has no ties to is, as Jock Scot might say, "just not done" in most circles.

For example, I might go to an Italian restaurant and enjoy an authentic Italian meal (which pizza is most definitely not). But that's not quite the same as walking around speaking with a fake Italian accent, saying "Ciao" to everyone I know, and riding a Vespa while wearing a long scarf. (OK, OK, I know that's a pretty laughable stereotype, but you get my point.) People would likely look at me funny and ask if I'm part Italian or if I lived there. Not that there's any rule against it, but it's just "not done" amongst normal people.

*shrug* That's just the way it is in the world. I think it's great for people to explore and enjoy other cultures, and partake in the "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" mentality. But that's quite different than doing as the Romans do when one has never been to Rome, doesn't know any Romans, and just arbitrarily decided to act like a Roman because it's fun.

I would never engage in, nor condone, the type of berating that some people do over these things. But surely you understand why people might hesitate to adopt the dress of a culture that they have no ties to, simply out of a sense of common social grace?