Labels/Categories

to name, or tag--to attach label to or to classify as
Why do we label?

Is it to place things and people into categories to better know them or as a dismissal?

Once something or someone has been labeled--do we go back and reevaluate them?
=a fruit that is oblong in shape, has a firm outer layer, and is green then turns more yellow and ultimately brown as it ripens -- a Banana or a type of banana--there is no reason to disbute this but when it comes to people-we are not as clear cut
=I can not be described solely as short, white, 20something, female--these things are characteristics that are helpful in picking me out in a line-up but when it comes to Who I am...they can not define me

in my photo class, we were discussing a reading that was talking about interpreting photographs and contexts that they should be read in-at one point, it said something like ~photographs can not be put into overall categories because they would loose some of their meaning because they can be read in so many ways~ I thought to myself--such as people

In certain situations, I can be gregarious, or reserved, or mischievous, or completely honest and open and vulnerable. I have many different kinds of friends as well. This is not unlike others but sometimes i feel splintered-- like these are only fragments of myself--do they coexist or are they separate of each other? I would love to see myself as fluid and ever changing for the better. I think the more I pay attention to my actions--these changes will come effortlessly.

This line of thinking parallels with how I view gender. We are so conditioned into our gender roles it becomes second nature. It is not until we run into a brick wall and start to analyze and "live" deliberately that changes acquired and we become more well rounded individuals.

I apologize for my sporadic writings--hopefully I am letting complete thoughts come out and if not I am sorry--i am sure it will get better in time

oh and I also want to lead you to a WONDERFUL episode of This American Life called "Got Up Pegged" that helped fuel the ideas behind this blog-- it is about assumptions about people and situations and how we can totally get them wrong

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1309