This semester, I decided to take a sociology course since it is one of those classes that is required of all freshmen in college. We are now in the middle of the semester, and I have observed that sociology emphasizes labels.
In class just a few days ago, we discussed social classes and how each class behaves. My professor stated that just by knowing a person's social class, education level, annual income, race, and gender, one can tell everything about that person. I left class that day very indignant and full of troubled thoughts.
I am of the opinion that sociology tries to explain people, as if people are predictable and can be put into boxes or categories with labels attached to their foreheads. It does not seem right to me.
Labels are for cans of soup, not for people.
I know that our society has a nasty habit of categorizing, and I think it is because labeling is comfortable to society. As a result, we get in the habit of labeling ourselves and others without even thinking about it because society embraces it. It is simply something we are exposed to all the time.
I must confess that for much of my life (though my life has not been very long yet), I labeled myself. When people told me I looked like some actress or reminded them of characters from books, I used to try to embody those characters and really look like the actress. It is quite embarrassing now to think about because I have learned over the past few months that I cannot be labeled...correctly. I refuse to be labeled. I may be a vegetarian, but that is not all of who I am. I may be a college student, but that is not all of who I am either. I like Star Wars, but that does not define me. I am Whitney, and there is no one else just like me. The same thing applies to you.
You are you, and no one could ever take your place.
You are not a can of soup to be put on a certain shelf.
