Gaga in the social justice community

[aaronyoji 2,054]

well with the whole burqa situation, i couldnt care less because its religiously based, which doesn't deserve any special defense unlike race, because that is something you're born with. just because religion is synonymous with certain racial groups and their culture, doesn't mean its above interpretation or usage in art. 

[Nicole 1,809]

Gaga has definitely been problematic in the past and probably will be in the future as well. But her continuous activism within the LGBT+ community enables me to look past it and hope that she is more educated now than a few years back and knows where to draw the line in the future with issues people are mentioning. 

[gagzus 15,930]

I think the true sense of cultural appropriation has been lost because the true sense is when you WILLINGLY mock it such as if you were to wear a burqa for Halloween and find it humorous.

people have become deluded and think that if a white person wears, says or does ANYTHING now we're automatically racist and uneducated, when it comes to Gaga I don't find her use of dreadlocks or the burqa and etc offensive because she's not MOCKING it she's appreciating it and thinks it's beautiful. 

I also think SJWs and some black people on social media in particular are hypocritical, especially when they gang up and bully white people for having dreadlocks, they talk about how black girls and boys are bullied for things like hair then proceed to bully others, especially since many Rastafarians in reality are white as well as black. Besides I find that culture doesn't link with race it links with groups; like the burqa links with women who follow Islam not Asian people since you can convert to Islam even if you're a white westerner or saying about the dreadlocks when they link to Rastafarians not black people, thats like saying that terms such as slay and yas are linked to the stereotype of black women when it's actually LGBT+ slang and terms.  And also if clothing and what not is cultural then many straight people appropriate gay culture with hairstyles, clothing and sayings now that originated in 90s and 80s gay culture

[Dorothy Gale 7,575]

I don't think Gaga has done anything that problematic really. The only thing that I found offensive was the c*nt purse paired with the burqa, that just felt like a quick way to get attention.

[Didymus 34,380]

SJWs hate Gaga because she's white. Plain and simple. She's definitely done some stuff that she shouldn't have done, but as Lance pointed out, black celebrities have done similar things but they rarely get called out on it. I stopped taking the SJ community seriously because they're hypocrites. They have witch hunts whenever a white celeb said something inappropriate in 2007 but ignore anything their black fave has done. Like... at least call everyone out when they've done something ~problematic~.

Well, black people are allowed all things white people can't do because they're a suppressed minority That's the logic there.

[Riot Poof 2,236]

Well, black people are allowed all things white people can't do because they're a suppressed minority That's the logic there.

I don't think that most SJWs allow black celebrities to be homophobic, transphobic, racist, etc. They just turn a blind eye when it happens, easily forgive them, or acknowledge what had happened in a suspiciously brief manner. (Of course there are exceptions and complicated situations. For example, Tyga's probably universally hated by Tumblr right now. Also, several widespread posts were made about Azealia Banks' shenanigans, but she still has a lot of supporters because she's outspoken about black issues.)

[Didymus 34,380]

I don't think that most SJWs allow black celebrities to be homophobic, transphobic, racist, etc. They just turn a blind eye when it happens, easily forgive them, or acknowledge what had happened in a suspiciously brief manner. (Of course there are exceptions and complicated situations. For example, Tyga's probably universally hated by Tumblr right now. Also, several widespread posts were made about Azealia Banks' shenanigans, but she still has a lot of supporters because she's outspoken about black issues.)

Yeah, that's definitely more accurate than what I wrote

[LoveandMagic 1,731]

I think it really boils down to intent. If Gaga, or any artist/celeb, does anything that might feel wrong or offensive, the question should then be asked, "what message is trying to be conveyed here?" or "what's the intent of the artist?". Some people are purposely provocative because they want to spur certain important social/cultural conversations, others see beauty or an alternative meaning, some are trying to be seen as hardcore or edgy, and some are indeed trying to mock. Gaga doesn't seem like the type to try to hurt others, instead she seems to try to embrace and understand others ways of thinking or cultures, and we can base that over speeches, interviews, and other acts of good will she has shown in the past. 

 

[Kayla 7,595]

Well.. as a self proclaimed SJW (a term I both love and hate..) and a big Gaga fan..

I think it's a nuanced situation. Personally, I think a lot of things Gaga has done have been problematic and go against a lot of social justice thinking. I don't think it makes her a bad person, it just means she's ignorant of how certain things can be offensive. And that's fine to an extent, because we can all be ignorant at times. But it's the reasonable thing to do to listen to people if they're telling you that what you're doing is rude or inconsiderate. 

 

I think Gaga's use of the burqa/veil imagery is a bit troubling, likewise the use of the word "gypsy" (as I've discussed on here more times than I care to count). I'm of this opinion because of pieces of writing I have read from people who are actually from the groups those two things relate to. I'm inclined to listen to them when they say something is offensive, because it affects them. 

To put it really bluntly, and to generalise a bit - I don't care what white gays have to say about appropriation from Muslim cultures, or whether or not gypsy is a slur. To elaborate - if you're not part of the group that is likely to be offended, you don't really get a say in whether or not it's appropriate or offensive. Your feelings are irrelevant in this situation. 

I know Gaga is a smart woman, and of course I don't think she's racist or Islamophobic, or intentionally doing anything wrong. But she has room to learn. She's neither devil nor saint, because it's not as simple as that. 

Really great post about this. People often dismiss "Social Justice Warriors" and insult them, but in reality the SJW's are saying things that minority groups have been irked about for decades. They go overboard sometimes, totally. They also nitpick every little thing to the point where even I am like "Really, guys?" But majority of the time, they're speaking out because they have someone else's best interests at heart. 

We're in the "NOTICE EVERYTHING!" phase of this movement. Now that the voices are being heard, it makes sense for more to be speaking out and calling out every little act of injustice we see. This also makes us look annoying to people who aren't quite on board with the concept. I'd say give it maybe five more years and the "SJW's" will have toned down a bit, and their focus will be much more improved. 

 

I think the true sense of cultural appropriation has been lost because the true sense is when you WILLINGLY mock it such as if you were to wear a burqa for Halloween and find it humorous.

people have become deluded and think that if a white person wears, says or does ANYTHING now we're automatically racist and uneducated, when it comes to Gaga I don't find her use of dreadlocks or the burqa and etc offensive because she's not MOCKING it she's appreciating it and thinks it's beautiful. 

I agree with this. A good portion of Gaga's "appropriation" does come from lack of education, but I also feel a greater portion of it comes from appreciation and knowledge. For example, the clothing she wore to the 2015 MET Gala was based on traditional Chinese robes, but the designer himself (Alexander Wang) is Chinese and he designed it specifically for Gaga, who I'm sure has respect for Wang and his culture. 

[hausofdavies 22]

Well.. as a self proclaimed SJW (a term I both love and hate..) and a big Gaga fan..

I think it's a nuanced situation. Personally, I think a lot of things Gaga has done have been problematic and go against a lot of social justice thinking. I don't think it makes her a bad person, it just means she's ignorant of how certain things can be offensive. And that's fine to an extent, because we can all be ignorant at times. But it's the reasonable thing to do to listen to people if they're telling you that what you're doing is rude or inconsiderate. 

 

I think Gaga's use of the burqa/veil imagery is a bit troubling, likewise the use of the word "gypsy" (as I've discussed on here more times than I care to count). I'm of this opinion because of pieces of writing I have read from people who are actually from the groups those two things relate to. I'm inclined to listen to them when they say something is offensive, because it affects them. 

To put it really bluntly, and to generalise a bit - I don't care what white gays have to say about appropriation from Muslim cultures, or whether or not gypsy is a slur. To elaborate - if you're not part of the group that is likely to be offended, you don't really get a say in whether or not it's appropriate or offensive. Your feelings are irrelevant in this situation. 

I know Gaga is a smart woman, and of course I don't think she's racist or Islamophobic, or intentionally doing anything wrong. But she has room to learn. She's neither devil nor saint, because it's not as simple as that. 

Why do you love and hate the term Social Justice Warrior, just out of curiosity?

[Karandr 150]

Why do you love and hate the term Social Justice Warrior, just out of curiosity?

I love it because the "warrior" part sounds so delightfully dramatic. And because it gets people riled up. I hate it because of all the stereotypes that come with it, and the fact that people use it as an insult. 

Like yeah, I'm an SJW. F*** me for crusading for a kinder world, right? 

[Kayla 7,595]

Why do you love and hate the term Social Justice Warrior, just out of curiosity?

(I know you weren't asking me, but I'll give my thoughts on it as well, if you don't mind. :) )

On one hand, it's a somewhat humorous way to identify yourself as someone who speaks out for people who are not receiving fair treatment. But on the other hand, it's a label people use to rudely disregard what you're saying and dismiss your opinions because you're "just one of those social justice warriors."