Why I don't use identity labels

If you've visited my identity page recently (or seen it at all), you've likely seen this small box at the bottom talking about why I'm starting to really hate identity labels. And yes, specifically identity labels. My problems were never with community labels (i.e. furry), but specifically labels that have to do with identity. But I figured that I'd go ahead and write a blog post about it so I can go a bit more in-depth (I also considered making this a video, but I won't for right now).

See, I think identity labels are kind of a problem. That is my personal opinion of course, but I do want to tell you why I feel the way I do. I've been doing a lot of self-introspection recently about things I've really never thought about like my gender and romantic orientation. Something that I struggled with in this space in particular though is that I felt like none of the labels fit me. Not even the most generic label of "transgender". While that label could possibly be used to describe my feelings (and it's fine when my friends joke about it), it's not a label that I use because I'm not sure if it applies to me.

Not only that, but labels like that feel like a commitment that I can't go back on. They feel like things that if I discover more about myself later, I can't just repeal easily because they come with a lot of weight. Labels also lead to sterotyping which is almost never a good thing. To a degree I don't adopt those labels because of the baggage that come along with them. Plus, I would get so caught up in trying to find an existing label that fit me that I couldn't just sit down and write out plainly how I actually saw myself. I would agonize about what label to use for a really long time, trying to find one that fit but just not being able to.

I think labels came about in great degree because we as humans love to categorize things. When it comes to identity labels in particular though, I don't think it's a good place for categorization. Variation is natural and everyone is different, so labels can lead to a lot of false congruences and comparisons. People who can't exactly find what label fits them also try and invent new ones, which just leads to this large spawl of terms.

None of this is to discredit anyone using labels of course. At the end of the day, this is a personal gripe of mine. If you have found a label that fits you, great! Good for you! But I think I will continue to describe myself as I am instead of trying to use words that other people made. I also do this to avoid the sterotyping that comes with labels. It may make introductions harder, but things like my identity page hopefully give you a better idea of who I am.