Women wearing Native American Headdress at Fashion Show is racist ?

[Menelik_I]

Wearing a leopard print bikini, Kloss did her famous strut down the runway with some pretty hefty accessories: layers of turquoise jewelry and some lucite, fringe-covered heels. But the towering Native American-style headdress on her head is sure to get the most heat. (Have we learned anything from Paul Frank's ill-advised Fashion's Night Out party?)

The maybe-forthcoming Karlie Kontroversy comes at a sensitive time. No Doubt pulled their newest video for "Looking Hot" from YouTube and TV after Gwen Stefani's Native American costume sparked backlash. The band apologized.

Check out the pics below and tell us... is this offensive?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...usaolp00000003

Pictures:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I guess this could register as the biggest hysterical over-action of the year or do I need some Penn&Telller sensitivity training ?

Now without using an easy "centuries of Indian genocide" line, no offense to victims but if we are going to get consistent then Chocolate is an Insult to Aztec religious sensibilities, is there really a reason why this is racist ? She is just kind of appealing to the whole Disney Indian Princess mythos from Pocahontas to appeal to men fantasy and sell seducing underwear to married women and girlfriends.

Maybe you could say that this is cultural exploitation, which I don't see why because we don't really go around asking people's permission to copy their culture, but even then they should sue Disney for making 300 millions with the first Pocahontas cartoons.

I am lost on this one, so anyone with some knowledge of American culture who could help is welcome

Discuss.

[Stavroforos]

I think Americans have grown over-sensitive to the whims of the Amerindians, who seem to be offended at almost anything. Her wearing this headdress is about as offensive as if she were to strut down the runway wearing a Corinthian helmet.

[hellheaven1987]

Offense me because her boob size is too small.

[Col. Tartleton]

Offense me because her boob size is too small.

Yeah, she's not much of an underwear model. I don't know why VS has her on the pay roll. She's not even that pretty. They just give her great makeup. I mean you can say that about most women, but still.

What was the question?

Oh yeah. We won the Indian Wars. Now that's an American symbol.

It's not like she was covered in blood and holding a tomahawk and a human scalp.

[Veliky Kaiser Theos]

A quick google dictionary search on racism:
rac·ism/ˈrāˌsizəm/

Noun:

• The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as...
• Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief.

Don't think that wearing a headdress stereotypical of a culture fits into either. It's just the weak PC crowd whining about issues that matter in no way.

I think Americans have grown over-sensitive to the whims of the Amerindians, who seem to be offended at almost anything.

I think Westerners have grown oversensitive to everything.

[Seether]

I think Westerners have grown oversensitive to everything.

Except for the, you know, whole 'everything' part. When was the last time you saw westerners go on murderous mob rampages because Jesus or the Bible were insulted? Or what about when flags get burned? No? So methink that you think wrong when you say 'everything'.

[Veliky Kaiser Theos]

Except for the, you know, whole 'everything' part. When was the last time you saw westerners go on murderous mob rampages because Jesus or the Bible were insulted? Or what about when flags get burned? No? So methink that you think wrong when you say 'everything'.

That's just because the West got out of the Dark Ages. Don't need to pick up torches and burn things to get mad at menial/non issues.

And I'm well aware of the "everything" being wrong, it's an obvious generalisation.

[The Last Varangian]

It's not like she was covered in blood and holding a tomahawk and a human scalp.

My disappointment increases ever still.

[torongill]

Pictures:

Admit that you created the thread to post the pics. You should be commended. But she really needs to eat some waffles and steak or something.

P.S. The article doesn't say the headdress is racist.

[Menelik_I]

Admit that you created the thread to post the pics. You should be commended

I am but a man

But she really needs to eat some waffles and steak or something.

I myself prefer Brazilian models, but there is something in her face that is a turn on, probably the make-up. Victoria Secrets is selling weapons of mass seduction. But she does look like a walking skeleton on closer look

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

P.S. The article doesn't say the headdress is racist.

It is written that is offensive which is a broad term (Offended by What ? comes to mind), while the comment section calls it racist so it seems most people have a beef with it because of the racist part or something.

[torongill]

I am but a man



It is written that is offensive which is a broad term (Offended by What ? comes to mind), while the comment section calls it racist so it seems most people have a beef with it because of the racist part or something.

And I'm just a man too.

the article asks the readers for their opinion. True, the author says he anticipates some backlash, but the tone is in fact mocking the anticipated backlash. At least this is how I interpret it.

[justicar5]

It is written that is offensive which is a broad term (Offended by What ? comes to mind), while the comment section calls it racist so it seems most people have a beef with it because of the racist part or something.

I think that the full head dress is a religious thing, so that could be what is causing the offence (kinda like a naughty nun fashion line would make the RC go up in flames [again])

Ah ok: they are medals, effectively, each feather awarded for bravery/awesomeness.

http://www.indians.org/articles/indian-headdress.html

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/arti...Headdress/2276

So they have both a religious meaning, and are military awards. Yea I could see people getting hacked at that being used to sell skanky underwear by malnourished coke addicts.

[athanaric]

So they have both a religious meaning, and are military awards. Yea I could see people getting hacked at that being used to sell skanky underwear by malnourished coke addicts.

Does the military throw a tantrum everytime somebody shows up in a (deliberately fake-looking) military dress with fake awards?

Actually, the Vatican or any military or religious ethnic group being "offended" isn't a good argument at all. i think they should dress as they please, especially if it's not a realistic looing dress.

[Comrade_Rory]

I know a girl who does photography and one of her models wore a headdress and she got told it was racist.

I don't think it was even a native American who called her racist.

[Stavroforos]

Was your friend arrested for photographing and distributing racist photography?

[Condottiere 40K]

I've never minded the cultural exploitation of any Indian culture; if you feel offended, boycott the events and/or products.

[|Sith|Galvanized Iron]

Is the girl on the picture below wearing angel wings offensive to Christians? This is just ridiculous, it honestly seem more like a compliment than an insult to Indians that she wants to use their headdress. It would be better if racism accusations was actually limited to statesments regarding race. Ie saying Indians has ugly headwear is not racist, saying Indians are retarded becuase of inferior genes is racist.

[Blau&Gruen]

Meanings are context sensitive. I guess, there is one related to the scence on the pictures, probably a fashion event. If this is the case, then the shown male medicine man headgear means no longer "male medicine man headgear" but something like: "Only 3000 $ if you order from our catalogue!" You could also say, it has instead of a meaning a number now (e.g. 3000 $)

[Col. Tartleton]

Is the girl on the picture below wearing angel wings offensive to Christians? This is just ridiculous, it honestly seem more like a compliment than an insult to Indians that she wants to use their headdress. It would be better if racism accusations was actually limited to statesments regarding race. Ie saying Indians has ugly headwear is not racist, saying Indians are retarded becuase of inferior genes is racist.

It's an attack on the Polish people! Haven't the Poles suffered enough? They can't even screw in a light bulb without a snide remark.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Anyhow, I agree. The phrase "That's racist." should, 99% of the time, be replaced with the slightly longer and less fun phrase "That may be mildly insensitive to some people, but oh well. You can't please everyone all the time."

[irontaino]

It's culturally insensitive, but not racist.