Let's get one thing straight. People like labels. It's how you know you are buying BBQ sauce and not ketchup. It's how you know you're buying shampoo for dandruff. It's how you basically get around in life-- labels are knowledge.

We also label others. For example: Charles Manson, murderer. Or rather, instigated murder. Also see: creepy/crazy. We like this label because if we ever hear the name "Charles Manson" we know who he is. If we refused to give people labels every time we heard a name our mind would go blank. Charles Manson was an extreme example, though.

What about teachers? We call them English, Math, etc. teachers. We also deem them "tough" for giving too much homework or "super cool" because, well, they're super cool. This is why we groan when we realize we're taking a "tough" teacher. It identifies them-- labels them.

Labels are also beneficial when making social decisions. If Jimmy is a cheater, then I wouldn't want to date him because that's what he does. Much like Mrs. So and So teaches Geometry because it's what she does. We have no problem using labels to identify others for our benefit. It gets a lot stickier when we ourselves get labeled...

" SORORITY GIRL" is one I see blasted a lot by sorority girls. I am a sorority girl, but I don't really care about the label. I don't care because I am a "sorority girl." Knowing that I am 1. a girl and 2. in a sorority can lead to the conclusion that I am a sorority girl. There are stereotypes of girls who just get drunk and party, are rich snobs, or are Elle Woods, and people wish to avoid this, but who cares? Why shame other sorority girls for being different-- by the way, Elle Woods got into Harvard and saved an innocent woman's life in the end. We can complain about being associated with bad behavior like drinking, but almost every college label comes along with the negative drinking/partying stereotype. Why not embrace being a "sorority girl" and stop dismissing this piece of our identity by validating the negative connotations of being in a sorority by giving a million reasons why we're not "sorority girls"?

I'm guilty of using the label "girl" a lot. I used to say that I'm "a dude in a girl's body," and I know a lot of other people who do it. When people say you're being a "girl" you're being weak, needy, pathetic. "You throw like a girl!" See what I mean? It's no wonder girls don't want to accept that label. When I said I was a "guy trapped in a girl's body" I meant that I was loud, ambitious, tough, not desperately romantic or clingy, or maternal. I now think this was a ridiculous statement because there are plenty of men who aren't any of these things and are shamed for it-- see "you throw like a girl." Different people have different interests and characteristics. Not accepting the norm that was appropriated years ago doesn't mean following it by accepting a label that hurts my gender, it means saying "what do you mean?" when I'm told I'm either a. "acting like a girl" or b. "not acting like a girl."

Being a dude in a girl's body isn't accurate if you identify as a female. So embrace being a female even if your personality traits don't necessarily fit Susie Homemaker who only wishes for Jimmy to come home and to buy more shoes.

So, there's one that really makes my blood boil. It's when people discuss a black person as "a white black person." I haven't heard anyone do it in a while so I'm hoping we've grown out of it, but nonetheless, oh my gosh. Aside from being completely racist, what does that even mean? The racist meaning "they're doing well in school, wear button ups, and are well-spoken." So... let me just say again: WHAT? That's who they are. They're black, doing well in school, wear button ups, and are well-spoken. Their ethnicity doesn't mean it's impossible for them to do these things. Just like it doesn't mean it's impossible for a white person to be getting into illegal activity and having no ambition. By labeling people as a stereotype we limit them. By avoiding a label because of an ignorant stereotype we just enforce the stereotype.

Why are we so afraid of labels? I am a girl. I am a sorority girl. I am Catholic. Who cares about the stereotype? If I'm a whimp, that's a different label. If I'm a rich snob, that's a different label. If I'm a freaky Catholic, that's something people shouldn't event be discussing because ew. Accept the label. Accepting the label tears away the stereotype, and if you're trying to dismiss the stereotype, do it by addressing the stereotype as false versus "not being an actual girl."

In other words, people's opinions don't matter. Accept who you are. Don't accept the stereotype. And...

Because I think you and your identity is wonderful regardless of what people think.fe