Changing Our Labels
Are we constrained by the categories and labels that society puts upon us and that we embrace so willingly? To some extent I think so, sure having categories helps to explain and understand the world, but we get so caught up by these categories that are socially defined that we put such importance and weight to their value. We think that everyone must fit into a box, yet what if someone doesn't? Does it scare you? What would happen in a world with no labels, or at least ones that were a bit more fluid and less rigid and steadfast? Would it lead to chaos or just a nicer world in which to live?
I do not identify as being disabled, sure doctors might tell me that I have a medical condition, but for me I am just me. Ok so sometimes there is a biological explanation for some of my actions and my physical movements, who cares. Everyone has things that are different from others and that they have to deal with, it is just that mine is a little more pronounced than some. I am one of the lucky ones.
People I think sometimes need an explanation for my behavior and the label of 'disabled' or a 'medical condition', gives them that. It helps them make sense of abnormality in a 'normal' world I guess. But the thing is, is that there is no normal. If we could just cut ourselves free of the constrains that labels and language (the power of words) has on our society and our thinking then I think we would all truly be free. I used to tell people from the first time I met them that I had a disability, not sometimes I don't even mention it at all. Am I denying part of my identity? I hope not. It is part of me, but that is all it is. It does not define everything about me and I don't want people to think that it is a big deal, because it is not. It just is, accept it as part of who I am and what makes me me and move on. Sure it has made me who I am today, but so has many other things in my life.
I am not just talking about disability here either, this goes for all identities. I am just using disability as a personal example. Nothing in life is every black and white, there is always different shades of grey. What would the world be like if race or ethnicity was not so rigid, what if people could be more than one. Some people are, but when they talk to others, sometimes they only pick one because it is easier for the other individual to understand. We do not need to make things easier, we need to make them right. Do people need to act totally feminine or totally masculine? Does it make you less of a women to be masculine, does it make you less of a man to be feminine to some extent? Life and all our identities is a continual spectrum, why can't people see that? Today I am attracted to men, but what about tomorrow? Today I am British, but if I choose to live in an indigenous part of Africa and follow the culture there, then surely I would then identify as African?
People change and are different, we need to embrace that.
I am not saying that you need to change your beliefs, ideologies, morals, etc. All I am saying is that sometimes you need to be critical of the way that you think and why you think the things that you do. Just to be aware of how things outside of your sphere of influence, such as your family, friends or the culture that you grew up in, has an effect on how you perceive the world. If we don't agree with it, then why don't we change it or at least have a discussion about these issues. We cannot merely forget about them and just go along with the dominant ideology, if we believe it to be flawed in someway.
I do not identify as being disabled, sure doctors might tell me that I have a medical condition, but for me I am just me. Ok so sometimes there is a biological explanation for some of my actions and my physical movements, who cares. Everyone has things that are different from others and that they have to deal with, it is just that mine is a little more pronounced than some. I am one of the lucky ones.
People I think sometimes need an explanation for my behavior and the label of 'disabled' or a 'medical condition', gives them that. It helps them make sense of abnormality in a 'normal' world I guess. But the thing is, is that there is no normal. If we could just cut ourselves free of the constrains that labels and language (the power of words) has on our society and our thinking then I think we would all truly be free. I used to tell people from the first time I met them that I had a disability, not sometimes I don't even mention it at all. Am I denying part of my identity? I hope not. It is part of me, but that is all it is. It does not define everything about me and I don't want people to think that it is a big deal, because it is not. It just is, accept it as part of who I am and what makes me me and move on. Sure it has made me who I am today, but so has many other things in my life.
I am not just talking about disability here either, this goes for all identities. I am just using disability as a personal example. Nothing in life is every black and white, there is always different shades of grey. What would the world be like if race or ethnicity was not so rigid, what if people could be more than one. Some people are, but when they talk to others, sometimes they only pick one because it is easier for the other individual to understand. We do not need to make things easier, we need to make them right. Do people need to act totally feminine or totally masculine? Does it make you less of a women to be masculine, does it make you less of a man to be feminine to some extent? Life and all our identities is a continual spectrum, why can't people see that? Today I am attracted to men, but what about tomorrow? Today I am British, but if I choose to live in an indigenous part of Africa and follow the culture there, then surely I would then identify as African?
People change and are different, we need to embrace that.
I am not saying that you need to change your beliefs, ideologies, morals, etc. All I am saying is that sometimes you need to be critical of the way that you think and why you think the things that you do. Just to be aware of how things outside of your sphere of influence, such as your family, friends or the culture that you grew up in, has an effect on how you perceive the world. If we don't agree with it, then why don't we change it or at least have a discussion about these issues. We cannot merely forget about them and just go along with the dominant ideology, if we believe it to be flawed in someway.
Yes I agree with you that in a way we are taught (although we may not be aware of it) to put people into categories and to label them, if only to help us make a little bit more sense of the world and to protect ourselves from information overload. But I think the problem lies in the fact that many people are not aware that they shouldn't believe in the stereotype or generalization all the time. And yes it does scare me when I don't feel like I belong especially when you're the new kid in town,school, etc and I think it's the same feeling for a lot of people. It takes guts to be the "odd one out" so everyone tries to fit in even if it means being someone they are not. Its effect on you is very powerful indeed. It's hard to find that balance as with anything in life.
ReplyDeleteAnd no I don't think you are denying your identity by not saying directly that you are disabled. It just means that you are more confident in yourself and can accept you for YOU. And I greatly admire that in you. And I agree with you that there is no such thing as "normal." Normal is hard to define and maybe it is for this reason that people have a hard time getting to know others that are outside of the norm.
And no, it does not make you less of a woman to be masculine or less of a man to be feminine. That is just who you are and people have to accept that about you. I personally feel that in every woman and man, there is a masculine and feminine side. It's just a matter of the extent of each. And also, just because you have lived in Africa and follow the culture doesn't make you African, it just means that you can identify more with their way of thinking, beliefs, culture, etc. But then again, if you choose to be identified as an African, then that's a whole different thing.
Thanks for this Court! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it!