Comments on: Label, Label, Label http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm Going where no blog has gone before. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Shari Miller http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-159 Shari Miller Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:54:43 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-159 Another thought: When we use labels, don't we try and place limits on people, including ourselves? Even the most basic and fundamental labels don't fully describe who we are or what our hopes, dreams, aspirations, and core identity truly are. At our innermost core of our being, labels fail to describe us, and so, we are who we are if we allow ourselves to touch that inner core. And when we can reach that point of self-knowledge, we are free to love who we love without putting any labels on others when we can look for the inner core of others. Easy? No. Threatening? Sure it is. But if we allow others to define us, we are relinquishing control of our lives to others, aren't we? I would submit that when we get beyond labels, and accept one another as they are that we'll all be a lot happier, won't we? I think so. Another thought: When we use labels, don’t we try and place limits on people, including ourselves? Even the most basic and fundamental labels don’t fully describe who we are or what our hopes, dreams, aspirations, and core identity truly are.
At our innermost core of our being, labels fail to describe us, and so, we are who we are if we allow ourselves to touch that inner core. And when we can reach that point of self-knowledge, we are free to love who we love without putting any labels on others when we can look for the inner core of others.
Easy? No. Threatening? Sure it is.
But if we allow others to define us, we are relinquishing control of our lives to others, aren’t we? I would submit that when we get beyond labels, and accept one another as they are that we’ll all be a lot happier, won’t we?
I think so.

]]> By: Shari Miller http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-158 Shari Miller Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:48:14 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-158 The main issue I find with labels is that they are rarely defined to everyone's complete satisfaction. They are used to differentiate one person from another, and all too often value judgments are placed on that differentiation. Based on one label or the other, that judgment leads to the conclusion not only of difference but a perceived superiority/inferiority, and this is unfortunate. All too often these perceptions are just that - superficialities, and in the long run are immaterial to the grand scheme of things. We are who we define ourselves, and we cannot allow others to define us because there will always be misperceptions. The main issue I find with labels is that they are rarely defined to everyone’s complete satisfaction. They are used to differentiate one person from another, and all too often value judgments are placed on that differentiation. Based on one label or the other, that judgment leads to the conclusion not only of difference but a perceived superiority/inferiority, and this is unfortunate. All too often these perceptions are just that – superficialities, and in the long run are immaterial to the grand scheme of things.
We are who we define ourselves, and we cannot allow others to define us because there will always be misperceptions.

]]> By: Shari Miller http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-157 Shari Miller Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:46:20 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-157 The main issue I find with labels is that they are rarely defined to everyone's complete satisfaction. They are used to differentiate one person from another, and all too often value judgments are placed on that differentiation. Based on one label or the other, that judgment leads to the conclusion not only of difference but a perceived superiority/inferiority, and this is unfortunate. All too often these perceptions are just that - superficialities, and in the long run are immaterial to the grand scheme of things. W The main issue I find with labels is that they are rarely defined to everyone’s complete satisfaction. They are used to differentiate one person from another, and all too often value judgments are placed on that differentiation. Based on one label or the other, that judgment leads to the conclusion not only of difference but a perceived superiority/inferiority, and this is unfortunate. All too often these perceptions are just that – superficialities, and in the long run are immaterial to the grand scheme of things.
W

]]> By: zythyra http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-151 zythyra Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:10:05 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-151 Wonderful post Monica! At times I have found various labels to be helpful in understanding myself, and also in finding community; musician, Jew, activist, anarchist, agnostic, pagan, spiritual, artist, vegetarian, male, female, gay, bi, faerie, transgender, androgyne... to name a few. It isn't necessarily the labels that I find constraining, it's the assumptions that often accompany them. When I feel boxed in by the label, it's best to discard it. Wonderful post Monica!

At times I have found various labels to be helpful in understanding myself, and also in finding community; musician, Jew, activist, anarchist, agnostic, pagan, spiritual, artist, vegetarian, male, female, gay, bi, faerie, transgender, androgyne… to name a few.

It isn’t necessarily the labels that I find constraining, it’s the assumptions that often accompany them. When I feel boxed in by the label, it’s best to discard it.

]]> By: Monica Helms http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-145 Monica Helms Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:58:22 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-145 Calli, Your information and explinatuions has helped to enhance what I have wrote and what others have said. Beautifully written. Calli,
Your information and explinatuions has helped to enhance what I have wrote and what others have said. Beautifully written.

]]> By: Callie http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-144 Callie Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:42:23 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-144 I may not like labels, words people apply to me, but I certainly need terms, words I use to describe myself. I need words to speak who I am, to make myself visible beyond the expectations of heteronormativity. But labels have limits because they are always based on some degree of ignorance; they describe how others fit in our taxonomy, not how others know themselves. I have often asked transpeople to explain who they are without using the word "Not." Too often we use labels as crutches and end up with a negative identity, one based on the claim that we are "not like them" and "not like those others." The more we try to positively state the nuances and details of our own identity, without resorting to quick labels as identity props, the more we begin to value not own our own complex nature, but also the complex nature of others. Words are symbols, and like any symbol, they are not equal to what they represent. Meaning lies not in the word, but in the spaces between the words where reality exists. When we use words to cast those shadows of meaning, we have terms. When we use words to paper over that nuance, we have labels. I may not like labels, words people apply to me, but I certainly need terms, words I use to describe myself. I need words to speak who I am, to make myself visible beyond the expectations of heteronormativity.

But labels have limits because they are always based on some degree of ignorance; they describe how others fit in our taxonomy, not how others know themselves.

I have often asked transpeople to explain who they are without using the word “Not.” Too often we use labels as crutches and end up with a negative identity, one based on the claim that we are “not like them” and “not like those others.”

The more we try to positively state the nuances and details of our own identity, without resorting to quick labels as identity props, the more we begin to value not own our own complex nature, but also the complex nature of others.

Words are symbols, and like any symbol, they are not equal to what they represent. Meaning lies not in the word, but in the spaces between the words where reality exists.

When we use words to cast those shadows of meaning, we have terms. When we use words to paper over that nuance, we have labels.

]]> By: Sarahjane http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-143 Sarahjane Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:40:38 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-143 Some people need to separate and categorize their neighbors into convenient 'boxes' or 'label'. It's like their 'instructions' on how to relate to others. If we observe and see someone as a male then we will use one defined 'instruction book' if you will; and the other 'instruction book' is for any female. But some can't deal with those who can't be put into the 'male' or 'female' box; because that's all he can deal with. He's the one who can't think outside the 'boxes' which overflows to how he relates to his neighbors. Some people need to separate and categorize their neighbors into convenient ‘boxes’ or ‘label’. It’s like their ‘instructions’ on how to relate to others. If we observe and see someone as a male then we will use one defined ‘instruction book’ if you will; and the other ‘instruction book’ is for any female. But some can’t deal with those who can’t be put into the ‘male’ or ‘female’ box; because that’s all he can deal with. He’s the one who can’t think outside the ‘boxes’ which overflows to how he relates to his neighbors.

]]> By: Pauline http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-133 Pauline Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:38:39 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-133 Smile "Your on candid delabeler". Pauline de Labeler Smile “Your on candid delabeler”.

Pauline de Labeler

]]> By: Monica Helms http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/transgender/label-label-label.htm/comment-page-1#comment-132 Monica Helms Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:33:35 +0000 http://www.monicahelms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-132 Do you know how to use the shift key? Trust me, I have no desire to get your version of "it," whatever the hell "it" is. If "it" is the label you like, then you have every right to use "it." Have a wonderful life. Do you know how to use the shift key?

Trust me, I have no desire to get your version of “it,” whatever the hell “it” is. If “it” is the label you like, then you have every right to use “it.” Have a wonderful life.

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