Why must we introduce ourselves with labels/stigmas?

NOT ALL Lesbians and Bisexuals act like this

so don't jump down my throat for making an observation

what's a fud? is that for real?

hi, i'm jen btw. 

I, for one, like my label.  It's cozy, and snuggly, and keeps me warm at night.

I am a lesbian.  I am a diesel femme.  I am a woman.  I am a mother.  I am a scientist.  A researcher.  A teacher.  A student.  A reader.  A rocker.  A dancer.

These are all labels.  They are simply descriptors.  Shorthand.

Do they fully describe me? Nope.  That's where conversation comes in. 

Well, I used to be all 'labels are st00pit! I'm just me' blah blah but then it just got old. And also, a billion people started saying they were 'no label' when they did, in fact, fit so snugly into one of those labels that's up there. So now I use labels to make the lives of others easier, and to make them not hurt. I agree with Penny though, they're just words, and that's all people are gonna see you as unless they hold a conversation with you. And whether you label yourself or not, people are gonna assign one to you anyway until they decide whether or not to get to know more about you. As for the lesbian community, my Government Label is "Genderqueer Andro-agressive Versi-top". I think that encompasses everything everyone's ever wanted to assign to me, sexuality-wise. lol

I see your point, Matt the rock$tar. And as Penny Winterr said, there is nothing wrong with identifying those labels that do in part describe you. It's simply necessary for how our minds put things together and particularly online trying to communicate with people who may never have the pleasure of face to face conversation, it can be a good starting point.

The problem is when we take the label as having it's own importance and existence about the individual. Worrying about how we'll be described instead of just being who we are. Limiting ourselves to labels which provoke a prototype that most often will not entirely fit the individual. Or worse, using a label as an attempt to minimize another person to a single descriptor. 

So I figure, call yourself what you will but be aware of the implications and limitations and be aware of the same limitations when hearing or reading the labels others choose for themselves by remembering that there is a whole, complex person behind them.

Lo siento if that point did not get across.

Just don't get all worked up about it when someone comes up to you and say who are you or what are you? You should be able to say I am Jane with pride. A label does not or should not make you. If you do not know yourself I believe you have no right to label yourself to fill some kind of missing void in your heart. It would be completely pointless.

Yes I myself label myself as boi/stud because that is what I feel in my heart. But at the same time, I am Matt no matter what. There are millions of masculine identified women in the world but there can only be one me.

I am a writer, I am a student, I am goofball, I am a lover, I am a fighter, I am my mother's daughter etc.

We are like onions there is so much to us then just a label.

Yes, I agree with you Penny Writer, conversation is key.

I guess you all missed my point in writing this. I get tired of people hiding behind there labels. I get tired of people saying and feeding into stereotypes about groups of people with in our community because they are not right and unfair to the person, when you can just talk and start that conversation to break down the barriers.

Get to know the person first, the label second.

I have absolutely no problem with how other people identify. Butch, femme, no label or whatever...I really don't.

I just wish that whenever people do identify it didn't include insulting what they don't identify as in the same breath.

You know, if you say "I'm not one of those lesbians" as if being "one of those lesbians" is not a cool thing to be you are undoubtedly going to insult someone who IS "one of those lesbians."

When I say I'm butch, it is not to separate myself from gay women that aren't butch. It's not about anyone else...in fact it's not even about other butch women. Because although there are similarities, of course every woman that identifies as butch, femme, no label, etc. is still unique.

_____________

Tweet: @GrrrlRomeo