We live in a world where people love to label things. Labeling things helps us to understand the situations that happen in our lives. It’s how we learn to speak and identify objects and people. Often, the labels that we give to people can hurt them in the long run. They restrict a person’s ability to explore themselves and find out who they really are. We are also living in a time when people are beginning to break free of these labels, specifically those involving gender.
Gender issues and ways to deal with them are becoming more and more prominent, especially in the younger generation.
When I was growing up, I had a difficult time fitting in with "girly girls." I was never really into makeup. I thought dresses were gross and heels terrified me. However, I wasn’t a "tomboy" either. I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty but I also didn't prefer it. I was never an athlete. I didn't like sports and to this day sweat makes me break out. So what did I do? I didn't have a label that defined me. I didn't have a place. I was in between. I considered myself a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal, nothing too relaxed but nothing too fancy. Fortunately, throughout my life I've found that there are a lot of us girls. We’re hiding on sports teams, in sororities, in yoga class, and in the Harry Potter fandom clubs.
We feel pressured to dress up really nice when going out because we know that other girls will be, but we're never really comfortable with a full face on, five-inch heels, pressed hair and a bodycon dress. But we also know that showing up with just jeans and vans will make us stand out like a sore thumb. I'm here to tell you that we have the best possible position because we can pull off both! Personally, being in a sorority has challenged me in the fashion department, but having to dress up for Chapter meetings every week has its advantages. We can wear dresses, skirts, and dress pants and look fabulous in them! We can wear sweats and college t-shirts and still glow. There’s nothing written in any magical book that says males or females must have these items in their closet. This book doesn’t exist and it never will.
Being labeled is limiting. It means that whenever you aren't sticking in to your label, you stand out. Now don’t get me wrong, standing out isn’t a bad thing to me, but it could be to someone else. But which is easier, standing outside of your label, or never having one to begin with?
