Do you think we need "labels" to define ourselves?

Why do we allow society to label us? Do some labels seem more confining and detrimental to us.. compared to others?

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My knee-jerk answer is "NO"...
but [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] now that I think about it I guess
in many instances "we" do need them.
Regardless of how each of us probably feel about
ourselves and labels, "society" (that's you and me and everyone)
DOES it. No way to prevent it.
Some labels please me more than others... for instance - I AM lazy but
I used to resent the label.
I like labels like friend, Mom, accountant, gymnanst (former)
what's-his-name's woman [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] (NOT crazy about the "used to be" part!)
and those.
I actually think some labels are necessary in a complicated and vast society.

I find some labels only define a small part of who we really are, some set us back and some just plain stink. What really bugs me is how those labels are used to group all and judge all accordingly. Trailer trash... not everyone is trailer trash for living in a trailer or trailer park. Poor... that one right there gives people impressions that are never quite accurate for all. Each label usually brings something to mind for the one saying it or hearing it. I couldn't even begin to pick only four out of the many labels... to describe myself, yet many only see one and peg you with it.

Labels might be convenient for some, but they are only an excuse for avoiding actually thinking of people as being more. When you label someone, you de-personalize them and begin to define them only by the label and not by the unique individual they are.

"Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing.
Labels are not for people." ~ Martina Navratilova

"I don't care what people call me,
labels have the negative value of
making smaller boundaries for people." ~ Michael Graves

"Labels and classification make it appear that we know the other, when actually we have caught the shadow and not the substance." ~ Clark Moustakas

"Labeling prevents us from getting to know ourselves and other individuals: there is no longer a person before us -- only a type." ~ Robert Bolton

"I don't put labels on myself." ~ John Engler

Jack! Exactly!

jaaj is right ,and i think some labeling is a good thing eg, college graduate, grandma, etc.... how ever , with people we get to knowing personaly, we look beyond the label, and see the richness of the real person behind it.

(((Bree))) [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
I thought about qualifing it and decided you would
and again I agree with you. (Scary, huh?) [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Any label is inadequate. Most serve their purpose
and aren't intended to do more than identify an
aspect of who we are - like Rox' Grandma and college grad;
also "member" , "democrat", "Friend" [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]etc.
The labels that "some people" (morons) apply are specifically
intended to denigrate the individual.
Those suck and they never -ever!- come close to reality.