my culture is not your costume
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Within a fan group or subculture, an accusation of malicious appropriation by an outsider, or a denial of a person's credentials.
Register: Internet, derogatory, humorous, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “my culture is not your costume” mean?
Within a fan group or subculture, an accusation of malicious appropriation by an outsider, or a denial of a person's credentials.
Is “my culture is not your costume” formal or informal?
my culture is not your costume is generally Internet, derogatory, humorous, slang.