![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
https://theestablishment.co/special-snowflake-my-ass-why-identity-labels-matter-3b976b1899a4/
I've been arguing against the "I don't need no stinking labels!" crowd since I first encountered them. Not "needing" a label is a form of privilege. That's wonderful that you, personally, can move through life without ever having your personhood challenged or needing to do work in order to find people who are similar to you or who accept you.
The rest of us use our biologically advanced tool of language to communicate abstract concepts with each other like who we are and how we work to be "seen" by others and to find each other because we're not as visible or as numerous as some people are and we live in worlds that are hostile to differences.
I've been arguing against the "I don't need no stinking labels!" crowd since I first encountered them. Not "needing" a label is a form of privilege. That's wonderful that you, personally, can move through life without ever having your personhood challenged or needing to do work in order to find people who are similar to you or who accept you. The rest of us use our biologically advanced tool of language to communicate abstract concepts with each other like who we are and how we work to be "seen" by others and to find each other because we're not as visible or as numerous as some people are and we live in worlds that are hostile to differences.
"Labels are crucial for anyone whose experience isn’t positioned as the default in our society."
"That’s what labels do — they empower marginalized people. Through our identities, we build communities, we learn about ourselves, we tell our own stories, we celebrate ourselves in a society that often tells us we shouldn’t, and we come together to stand up to oppressive systems.
Our identity labels hold power."
"Remember those Earth-like planets NASA recently discovered? Well, they’re currently in the process of naming them — because that’s what often happens when you discover something that you didn’t realize existed. Notice I said “you didn’t realize existed,” not “new.” Many of these identities aren’t new — it’s just that people are only now starting to learn about them and name them."
"On a daily basis, people are discriminated against for being something other than white, thin, neurotypical, cisgender, heteroromantic, heterosexual, and whatever else is perceived as “normal” in our society. If you fit into any of these categories, then you experience privilege. Some of your identities are more accepted, or at least more widely known. You don’t have to explain yourself everywhere you go. You don’t have to worry about facing discrimination throughout your day.
That’s privilege."
