Cultural Connections Without Cultural Appropriation We are building Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. To do that, we must first provide a space that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for Girl Scouts of all backgrounds. Part of this responsibility entails teaching about cultural diversity accurately and respectfully. You may have heard of cultural appropriation, but what does it mean? Cultural appropriation is the misuse of customs, practices, ideas, art, and more by a member of a different culture in a way that is disrespectful or inappropriate. Cultural appropriation does not give proper credit to the original creators and/or is for personal gain. Cultural appropriation can be harmful, even if unintentional. When elements of a particular culture are adopted by a dominant group, the original meaning and purpose of these ideas and practices often get lost. Cultural practices are often sacred and signal peoples’ diverse identities, and borrowing from these cultures without proper care can lead to misrepresentation, exploitation, and trivialization. However, appreciating and understanding different cultures is an integral part of the Girl Scout experience. Girl Scouts can create positive change in the world by learning about people, ideas, and places outside their familiarity or comfort zone. There are many ways to appreciate cultures different than your own respectfully. Cultural appreciation means learning about a culture through customs, practices, ideas, art, and more. It requires gaining knowledge about the culture you are sharing and an explanation of the cultural and historical roots of what you are appreciating. It can help to gain knowledge from an expert, like someone with lived experience of that culture, or online resources.
Tips and Guidelines for Adding Cultural Connections Learn before you share. As you bring cultural connections to badges and journeys, spend time learning about the connection you are making, using resources written or created by members of that community. This will give you the background information and context you need to share with the Girl Scouts. Learn from the community. Use sources and seek guidance written or created by members of the community for the culture you wish to share. This minimizes the risk of appropriating a culture and the risk of learning and repeating stereotypes. Bringing in members of the community you’re learning about can also be incredibly helpful—there are a variety of organizations within the council that can provide this kind of support. Learn the origin and purpose. Keep in mind that items, patterns, music, and stories may look like fun crafts, art, or decorations from an outside perspective but fulfill a culturally significant role as elements of ceremonies, celebrations, or religions. Research will help you determine if art-based activities are appropriate. Wearing other cultures as a costume is always inappropriate, such as wearing blackface and Native American headdresses. You can still talk about items and cultural connections that you can’t recreate but find a different hands-on activity to accompany the lesson. Appreciate, don’t appropriate. The goal of cultural activities should be to shed light on the cultures, histories, and identities of our communities. When Girl Scouts learn accurate information about other cultures, they will be better equipped to respect diverse voices and see the value in cultural diversity. gsnwgl.org | 888.747.6945