Labels are names given to assign people into categories within society or a group of people. They have been taken into consideration since 1963 when Howard S. Becker developed a theory that focused on social behaviour known as the Labelling Theory, suggesting that labelling a person makes it more likely to act how they are being described. That being said, when categorizing people into groups by the way one is, you are unintentionally excluding them because they do not resemble a trait of yours. It is also the action of having a person's prejudgement without getting to know them; this may be by looking at how they dress, think, or even talk.
The action has two outcomes: positive and negative. People will have the choice to focus on the positive ones (that boost your confidence and help you), or the negative ones (that make you lower your self-esteem). But have you ever asked yourself why they are categorized like that? Why is being skinny or fat negative? Why is being beautiful and outgoing positive? It may be because society has put into our heads that being called a certain way will somehow make you feel better. Not only can they be the typical adjectives, but they can also be based on race, religion, ethnicity, or anything that resembles the previous categories mentioned.
Labelling has affected us negatively because we want to fit into society's stereotype of being that perfect attractive human being that only focuses on how one acts or looks. Most of the time, this happens when meeting someone for the first time without getting to know them. That prejudgement can be seen in social media as well, because, in the past years, social media has affected teenagers tremendously with the term influencer or the number of followers one has. It has provoked eating disorders, lower self-esteem, and many other adverse reactions because of the labels we want to be called. It is called validation.
As girls and guys go to school, we look for our crush or someone we fancy to notice us. And, yes, it makes you feel good when someone calls you something nice, but if they don't call you anything at all, it is very likely for us to feel as if they are judging or name-calling us behind our back. We are OVERTHINKERS because we are constantly questioning everything around us. But have you ever noticed that we go in circles inside our head trying to figure out what they think of us? Yet, if we still focus so much on how others see or judge us, are we genuinely acting like ourselves, or as the people we want them to see us as? And if you do that, do you have a description of who you are? I mean, I'll be honest, I've done it, and I sometimes still do. But we have to start figuring out who we are and not based on the labels society has given us, but by the labels you give yourself.
Z.
References:
What is 'labelling theory' in sociology? (2019), The Hindu [online]. Available from: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-is-labelling-theory-in-sociology/article26062527.ece [Accessed 24 October 2020]
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