The Problematic Essentiality of Labels

I have an unusual relationship with labels.

I know that they’re unnecessary, can be reductive and are an over-simplistic way of

describing people, or entire nations. Whether describing someone’s gender, sexuality, disability status, nationality, ethnicity, or any of the dozens of characteristics we each have some sort of relationship with, labels are a simple way to take a complex, unique individual, and reduce them to a small handful of interchangeable words upon which meaning is deduced. Entirely unnecessary and burdensome.

But the idea, for me, of being without labels is incredibly distressing. Being unable to

use a simple word or phrase to describe a section of my being doesn’t sit well with

my brain, despite me being fully aware of a label’s redundancy, and regularly telling

others as much. I use labels to describe so many important aspects of who I am,

because a lot of them are integral to who I am as a person, and play such a crucial

role in my day-to-day life.

So how do I square this circle? How can I simultaneously reject the concept of labels

yet cling to them so integrally myself? It’s all down to how you use your labels, rather

than a discussion about having them.

There is nothing wrong with having labels for yourself, whether these are ones you

choose to share with those around you, or just ones you keep for your own use. But

it’s important to keep in mind why it is that you are labelling yourself in the first place.

Are you doing so for the sake of figuring out who you are, or communicating that to

those around you? Are you labelling yourself for the sake of being able to move

forward in some aspect of your life?

Or are you labelling yourself because you feel as though you have to? Because

someone’s putting pressure on you to be labelled in a particular way? Or because

you ‘know’ everyone else is & so therefore you better get on it to? Labels are, &

should always be, for you and no one else.

Sometimes, people use labels temporarily, as a way of figuring out who they are. In

the past few years, I’ve gone through countless labels in an attempt to deduce which

category most aligns with who I am, which can be an incredibly informative &

empowering experience. And if you are doing so, or even considering it, remember

that you can label yourself however you see fit, even if it doesn’t strictly fit the often-

rigid descriptors for what this can be – whatever feels most comfortable to you is the

right way to go.

But if you know someone who is experimenting with labels, heed my advice – don’t

‘correct’ them. If someone tells you that they’re bisexual, for example, but you think

they’re actually pansexual, remember that it’s not your place to deduce this, it’s

theirs. If you are particularly close to the person, then you might gently suggest a

different label to them, but with the understanding that however they label

themselves, if it’s correct for them, is right. Understand, accept & affirm.

In our modern society, do we truly need labels? In our liberal democracy where

people can be who they want to be & who they truly are, are we past the point of

needing labels? Yes. But should we do away with them? Absolutely not.

Labels, stereotypes, gender norms – all of these reductive concepts that may be

irrelevant in modern society for so many people can be incredibly powerful for other

people. Whilst no one should ever be forced to adopt any of these concepts, & much

less have them pushed by others, some people can find them incredibly affirming,

giving them an empowered sense of self that may have been lacking before. If

someone wants to label themselves, that’s their right. If they don’t, that’s their right

too. And if they want to label themselves ‘unlabelled’ – a great tip for anyone who

can’t figure out what label(s) relate to them – embrace it, you never know how it

might make someone feel.

Therefore, in our modern society, labels can be a problematic & reductive way to

approach a world of unique & wonderful characters. But they can also be a bridge

connecting someone to their sense of self, their sense of place & purpose. So if you

want to be labelled, or unlabelled, or a mix of the two, go right ahead – after much

soul-searching, I’m proud to be a demiromantic, bisexual, transgender girl who is constantly questioning all of the previous labels I’ve given myself.

Be whoever you are; become whoever you want to be.

Written by, Sophie Layton (she/her)