why do people always want to label me/my sexuality?
18 Answers
Moderated by Danielle Johnson, MSED, Community mental Health Counseling, LMHC
Updated: Mar 22, 2021
SilenceAtNight
on
Dec 30, 2015
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Because it presents people with the unknown which we are evolutionarily designed to be wary of. People like labels because they automatically know how to relate to someone who is bi, gay, lesbian, straight based on their perceptions of people in these boxes, whether that perception is positive or negative. When the label is not there you are more ambiguous to them which makes some people uncomfortable because it forces them outside their comfort zone.
Anonymous
on
Mar 22, 2016
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People like to use labels. People like to put things and people into boxes that they can easily understand and define. Just remember that no one can truly label you but yourself.
RainbowAtHeart
on
Feb 14, 2017
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People tend to feel more comfortable with something they can out a word to. If it makes you uncomfortable with trying to box yourself it, you can always use the word queer just so they have one in reference to you. It essentially means "not straight but also not specifying my sexuality at the moment" and it's what I usually use.
Anonymous
on
Mar 28, 2017
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Usually because it's easier for them to understand. People feel the need to put everything in categories, based on different things.
beautifuldevil
on
Dec 11, 2017
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I think people find it easier to process neatly defined concepts. However, people are not concepts. Your sexuality is yours alone to label or not. So, be polite but forthcoming about your identity and make sure people know how you choose to be seen.
hgraff31
on
Jun 11, 2018
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Because some people don’t want to identify you by the wrong orientation. I understand having labels can be frustrating, but people want to see you for how you are.
PaintedLyrics
on
Aug 13, 2018
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When people give something a label it's usually to help them explain or understand whatever is there giving the label. Some people cannot comprehend that others feel outside of a specific box.
Anonymous
on
Mar 22, 2021
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People believe that labels make things easier to understand, and scientifically they are right. It is easier to label someone and then make assumptions based on that label. For example, we can label someone as a student and we now see know based on that label that they study, go to school, mostly are unemployed, etc. We do the same thing for sexuality. By labeling it, other people have an easier time understanding and making assumptions about you based on that label. Is it right though is an entirely different question. Life isn't about putting people into boxes to make ourselves more comfortable.
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