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Do you have to accept the labels you're given? How can you avoid them?

20 Answers
Last Updated: 11/10/2020 at 7:59pm
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Paola Giordani, Psychoanalyst

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I have helped and am helping people cope with loss, divorce, anguish and parenting. Depression is also a major issue that comes up.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
March 17th, 2015 12:34pm
You absolutely do not have to accept any labels you're given. You are the expert on yourself, and if you reject something that other people are trying to put on you, that's perfectly okay, and 100% valid. Labels are general categories that people fall under, and aren't very strict as concepts change all the time, especially with time and experience. There is no real way to avoid labels as they're so prevalent in human culture, but you can choose to not go by them yourself or encourage them when other people use them. Your sense of identity is entirely yours--we're influenced by other people and the environment, but you always have the final say on anything that affects you. No "if", "and" or "but"s about it.
Hedwiglovegood
February 17th, 2020 2:04pm
Labels are such a huge common part of society that it is really difficult to imagine life without them. Even names are labels , sounds made specifically to call you. But labels are only fine as long as they help to find precision and make decisions. Recently labels are used more to chain or entrap, making it difficult for people to explore. Therefore, I would say labels can be avoided by being unique and by being ourselves. Labels are tools to categorise and divide into groups and therefore we need to be different enough to make it impossible to belong to a general group. After all, we all are different and can't ever be piled together into divisions...all we have to do is make sure people realise how different we are.
Aayla
- Expert in LGBTQ+ Issues
August 5th, 2019 10:14pm
You're the only one who can assign a label to you. Your identity is nothing more than what you feel you are, so whatever you think describes you best is what you are. If other people don't acknowledge who you are, you can try to discuss them, explain how you feel, express yourself. Some close-minded people might still ignore you, but others will listen and learn more about you, and eventually accept who you are. It's always worth fighting for our identity and recognition.
kindSunshine18
January 24th, 2015 11:04am
No you don't. You can avoid by not letting it affect you and stopping people from hyping about it.
Anonymous
May 30th, 2016 1:11am
You don't have to accept the labels people give you. You are your own person. Other peoples opinion do not matter as long as you're happy.
Anonymous
November 10th, 2020 7:59pm
I would say you don't have to accept any labels given. You know yourself best and are in charge of what you decide to be. It can get difficult to avoid some labels, but over time it can be done. I would take time to yourself to learn who you truly are and who you want to be in every aspect of your life. It is a process but in the end, it's you that was in control and that can be a very rewarding feeling. Avoiding labels could start by just ignoring them and not choosing to live your life based on any labels. I have learned myself on how to do so and how to control what I want to be, so I know it can be done.
afloweronthewall
October 29th, 2019 11:19pm
No, you don't have to. Labels are just words. You are you. You cannot be defined by labels, as labels are just groupings humans made to make it easier to relate to others who are similar. You can completely ignore them altogether, or you could learn to accept them as a part of what makes who you are or what describe you as you. Remember that this is your life you're living. You're the one in control of it. Not me, not anyone else. You're the one with power. Don't think too much of descriptive things around you, as they don't truly define you. Nothing can truly define you. Not words, not labels.
SupportiveSockMonkey
March 12th, 2018 7:55pm
Labels are not for people, the only way labels stick is if you let them. there isnt anyway to avoid them as most people get targeted unfortunately but it is important to remember that we are strong on the inside and labels do not define us.
Sintix
March 5th, 2018 2:21am
You definitely don't. Labels are society's way of making dreams, ideas, and needs reality. But, it can be used in a negative way as well, sadly. There's not really a way to avoid labels, because they'll always creep up on you somewhere, but you have the choice of whether or not they affect you.
NordligSno
September 11th, 2017 12:36am
You can't control others and what they say, but you can voice that it makes you uncomfortable or learn to ignore them/take them more lightheartedly. :)
RainbowTrie
May 9th, 2017 1:07pm
Unfortunately, we live in a society where people like to label and judge others to help them better process and understand the world. However, you do NOT have to accept labels that have been forced upon you. You are allowed to stand up for yourself and say no to labels that you are uncomfortable with. You are also allowed to choose and create your own labels and inform others of your choices.
Anonymous
June 28th, 2016 8:20pm
You can not avoid labels. Every single person on Earth has labels. What you can do is ignore them, and be yourself. Even the most perfect person in the Universe has labels, negative ones, mind you. Labels are created by others, people who judge us and prefer to identify us by a single negative aspect of ourselves. We do not want to judge others, because that's operating at a low level of consciousness. In my view, the less you care about the labels you are given by others, the more these will fade. The most important is not let labels hold yourself back.
evalis
May 23rd, 2016 9:24pm
Labels restricts you and that's why I don't believe in labels. Why does my gender,religion, sexality , race matter? We are all human beings with 46 chromosomes so why differenciate us with labels?
Greatlistener87
March 21st, 2016 6:41am
You do not have to accept anything that you don't want to. At the end its your choice to choose whether to listen to others or your heart.
Nithou
December 29th, 2015 10:59pm
Labels are used everywhere in our culture, unfortunately, and it's always hard to get rid of them. We like to label things and put people in boxes, as it makes it easier to understand things. While you can't avoid label all the time, you can however work on the stigmas attached to it and make people understand, little by little, that how they label you isn't who you are, that you are much more than this.
GeminiRay95
November 2nd, 2015 4:28am
Labels are for nerds. Why do we have to label ourself in the first place? I mean if its important to someone to label themselves, you go girl, but it just isnt my cup of (7) tea(s). Just do you! You dont need labels do be yourself. Be kind. Be happy. Be loving.
BrightonToEnlighten
June 22nd, 2015 5:48am
There isn't really a way to avoid labels. Just like there isnt a way to not be who you are. People will always be there to insult you or put a label on you but you just have to learn to accept it because those people will always be there and you will always be here too. Just learn to ignore and move on, because soon, people are going to be there to label the labeler.
Eluna
April 1st, 2015 4:31pm
You never have to accept the labels given to you! They don't define you, other people's words and labels don't define you, only you can define yourself. You don't want to avoid them, just ignore what they say and know it doesn't define you.
enjoyiableParadise16
March 12th, 2015 9:09pm
Well, labels can hurt sometimes especially if they are negative. Sometimes we are able to easily avoid them while other times it is more difficult. If people call you something over and over that can be generalized to apply to others then that is a label and if you show you are hurt by them people who label others may end up using you as a target, but no matter how fearful you can stand up and say you don't care. It is not what others think about you, but really what you think about yourself so keep positive!
OakShield15215
February 17th, 2015 1:19pm
You do not have to accept the labels you're given. Avoiding them may be hard, especially if they're in your day to day life, but just ignore them, and try not to let it get to you.