KijiBrother Simp

2026:

Side Note: Curse the fact that I can't buy this

What're your thoughts on non-Asian people wearing clothing traditional to Asian countries?

I'm white, but I've been studying Chinese for my life (since I started school). In Elementary school, we'd all wear hanfu or qipao for our class LNY and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and I still have a qipao that fits, although I don't wear it much. Wearing it would fall more onto the appreciation side of things, right? That's what I'd thought, but a (white) friend of mine was over the other day and said it was weird of me to own it (she knows I speak Chinese). I suppose I just kind of wanted a second opinion?

(The qipao's not super high quality (thin and flimsy fabric, what you'd expect from Amazon) but it's not one of those weird sexualized ones.)

Hi! Thank you, I'm glad you like the blog colors.

This is a super nuanced topic, and is definitely brought up often, but in general, the main issues tend to be things like treating the clothing like a costume or joke, sexualizing it, claiming the culture as your own, or wearing it in a mocking/disrespectful context. From what you've described, it definitely sounds like you're being appreciative, not appropriative (not really sure why a white friend of yours should have an opinion on this, but anyway).

Context is important- when are you wearing qipaos? At open Asian cultural events, going to any important formal events, or even just everyday wear? At the first, it's overwhelmingly considered to be acceptable, especially given your lifelong dedication to Chinese. However, outside of specifically Asian-focusing settings, it's crucial to remember societal contexts.

In this article, Vietnamese American Sean Dao writes "to most Asian Americans, seeing Keziah wear a qipao [famous 2018 incident about a white woman who wore a qipao to prom] is frustrating because most Asian Americans would never feel at ease doing so in America. Being able to wear that dress without fear of judgement is a product of her white privilege." He concludes that while white people can definitely wear ethnic clothing, they need to "be prepared to answer questions about why they are choosing to wear ethnic clothing." Dao brings up that people fear losing their cultural origins to history through appropration, and if Keziah had demonstrated knowledge about the history of the qipao when questioned, the story would've played out much differently. Personally, I agree with him. You can wear the qipao, but be aware of your privilege while doing so and try not to abuse it, and try to learn the qipao's cultural origins.

Disclaimer that I am just a single Asian American, and we are not a monolithic culture! Many can and do feel differently. (Additionally, though most mainland/non-Western Asians tend to approve of this more, key differences between they and immigrant/Western Asians should not be ignored. A Chinese person living in China would simply see the casual wear of the qipao as a spread of their culture, while a Chinese American might feel differently.)

Dear everyone: It's appropriation when I, as a person of Chinese descent, cannot wear a cheongsam to a formal event in the US without feeling Othered. I'm glad she liked the dress. I do too. I wish I could wear it without people thinking I'm not truly American.