Tag: labels

SOCIETAL NORMS AND LABELS

BLACK- WHITE- RICH- POOR- LIAR- CHEATER- THIEF- “SNAKE”- SNITCH- SMART- DUMB- UGLY- BEAUTIFUL- FAST- SLOW- PRACTICAL- FUNNY- ADVENTUROUS-  and the list is endless.

We live in a world that is simply full of labels and this causes many people to forget who they are or actually hinders them from finding themselves and unlocking their true potential

In one group, an individual can be viewed as smart and loving, whilst in another group, they can be viewed as dumb and stingy. This can lead to a dichotomy in one’s character as well as identity confusion.

Labels in themselves are not all bad and destructive and they actually serve the purpose of categorising and making things easily identifiable.

Labels that I had been given by many people in my life actually defined me for a long time and I found myself becoming those labels.  The phrase that began to control my every thought and action was:

“If you do something, you become that thing”

I won’t discredit this and refute the quote as there is some truth in it. If you lie, you become a liar, if you pass in school you become smart and if you steal you become a thief. The plague that is associated with labels, however, can be found in the very essence of this phrase.

Labels are given to us from a young age. When we are born people already ascribe labels to us based on how we look and actions that we perform and as we grow older, we are constantly told who we are and what will we be in the future.

PROBLEMS OF SOCIETAL LABELS

1. AFFECT THE MIND

If we take into account the fact that everything we see, HEAR, taste, smell and feel are processed in the brain, this can be seen as the entry point for both positive and negative labels.

Our brains are not programmed to decide between good or bad labels as they appear the same to our mind. With this in mind, when good labels make us feel some kind of way, the negative labels are then accepted as well. This leads to a lot of mental health problems like depression, anxiety, social awkwardness and the like. Labels make us question ourselves and our actions. This can lead to self-doubt and uncertainty.

2. BECOME SELF-FULFILLING

The urban dictionary defines self-fulfilling prophecy as:

 Positive or negative expectations about circumstances, events, or   people that may affect a persons behavior toward them in a manner   that he or she (unknowingly) creates situations in which those expectations are fulfilled. 

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Self%20Fulfilling%20Prophecy

An innocent man is put into prison for something he did not do. After constantly being called a murderer, rapist or any other term associated with criminals, it has been noticed that the individual will eventually begin to believe that they are a criminal. Their actions and behaviour will actually represent those of the label that has been assigned to him.

A below average student is placed into the top stream of his class. After constant exposure to the preferential treatment that he is given by the top stream teachers in comparison to bottom stream teachers, his grades begin to steadily improve and he begins to achieve higher grades. His vocabulary and reasoning change too and he becomes more mature.

Labels actually begin to define the individual and all that they do as constant exposure to the said label makes them think and act according to the expected behaviour. This can be good if the individual listens to positive and constructive labels, however, if the labels are negative, they can foster antisocial behaviour.

3. LIMIT ABILITY

Labels are a limit to the intrinsic potential that we all possess inside of us. When we become defined by labels that are given to us, these labels begin to colour and dominate our inner identity and belief in ourselves.

There is a sense of hopelessness that is created when we are given negative labels. The same happens we come across a norm that does not encourage originality and initiative.

It is unfortunate that people lose their way and their identity simply because someone told them that they could not do what they wanted over and over again.

Detrimental labels become barriers to what we can achieve. They have become non-existent barriers that are entrenched in the mind and become a real hardship as these labels take root in the false world and identity that is created.

I always knew it would not work. What did i expect? I am skinny and too small and yet everyone else that is doing this is big and muscular

All seemingly normal labels come with specific expectations and connotations. These expectations then serve to create certain behaviours that will conform to the expectations that have been placed by other people.

4. DANGEROUS

The most dangerous thing about labels is that they creep up on you slowly. Like cancer, the limitations and behaviour change start small and unnoticeable and unlike cancer, they are noticed when it is a bit too late.

They become “truths” that we begin to believe and actually begin to conform to. We find ourselves settling for less than we deserve and behaving in ways that are contrary to our true ideals simply because other people have imprinted their false images on us.

We begin to believe that:

If others see it, then surely it must be true and I might as well act that way.

5. MAKE YOU POWERLESS

Labels take away our accountability for the actions that we perform. Labels become a pivot against which we can blame others and our apparent label for any mistakes and errors that become “part of our nature”.

As this happens over long periods of time, we lose the urge and drive to break through the labels and fail to recreate ourselves in this ever-changing universe that we find ourselves in.

6. LIMITS OUR PERCEPTION

Social labels create a black and white for us. 

It is either you are this or that

Labels are like a great load, restricting our freedom of thought and making us less creative as we follow everyone else. There is no room for alternatives and other ways of thinking.

Labels limit us to the set standards and ways of solving problems that we may be faced with. There are many ways to skin a cat and solve an issue. Labels also take away from the fact that not everything is a yes or no situation.

They also make us ignore any other things that could be affecting an individual. Statements like ” they are just LAZY” and more take away from the bigger picture and actually reduce that other person and all that they are going through.

7. BREED COMPARISON

Comparing one’s life to another’s is a major cause for suicide the world over. Many victims believe that their life is less satisfying when compared to other people’s lives.

Labels take away the unique and intrinsic characteristics that can be found within oneself. As we become objectified by our labels, we begin to look at our outward differences and the world that we live in.

Labels make us forget all our strengths and focus on our shortcomings and this is not good as we all have different gifts and capabilities.

Labels, especially the negative ones that are poured upon us by society are not good and actually serve to hold us back and keep us well below where we deserve to be. They are usually passed in by small minded people who are not as confident in themselves and thus aim to break others down by demeaning them. Look out for these people and labels that hold you back and begin the journey to break past them.

Make life personal.

Young Old Soul