I have a question about two of my main characters (one filipino/mexican, one chinese, both US-born) . Due to their parents’ work situation, they each spent a lot of time in each others’ homes when they were young and essentially consider themselves siblings with 3 parents. How much would it be appropriate for them to identify with each other’s culture, in the way an adopted child might, and when does it start to be appropriation?

writingwithcolor:

Identifying with a Friend’s Culture?

In my opinion, it wouldn’t be appropriate for them at all. For example: one of my good friends is Japanese, and we’ve known each other since middle school up until adulthood. While we’ve certainly shared a great deal of our cultures with each other, I don’t think either of us would identify as the other’s culture. I wouldn’t call myself Japanese just because I was close friends with one.

–mod Jess

This reminds me of something my college professor discussed in our Science Fiction and Fantasy class.

The idea is that there are 3 levels of experiencing culture.

Native, guest, and tourist.

If you are not born into a culture, at best you can only become an honored guest, at worst you’re the tourist that everyone wants to leave.