Once upon a simpler time, people introduced themselves with just a name and possibly a firm handshake (or a clammy one, depending on nerves). These days? You’ll need a name, a pronoun badge, possibly a QR code linking to your ideology, and a quick disclaimer that you’re not gluten-free but emotionally complex.
Welcome to the Era of the Label, where everyone’s something, and if you’re not, are you even trying?
Let’s peek at the latest from the Department of Identity Statistics:
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In the UK’s 2021 Census, 262,000 people (0.5%) said they identified with a gender different from their registered sex at birth. Around 30,000 people declared themselves non-binary, and presumably very tired of explaining it to their grandparents.
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A 2016 Fawcett Society poll revealed that 44% of Britons think gender is a spectrum. Among Gen Z, that figure climbs to 50%, which is also roughly the percentage of people in their 20s who claim to be “very into astrology.” Coincidence? Possibly.
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In the US, Mintel found that 46% of Americans are down with gender being a spectrum. Among Gen Z, it’s 53%—the same group also responsible for reviving flared jeans and oat milk. Make of that what you will.
In short: labels are in. They’re the new Pokémon cards. Gotta collect and define ‘em all.
Psychologists say labels help us find community and clarity. You meet someone, you say, “I’m pansexual, demisensual, ethically non-monogamous but emotionally monogamous on Wednesdays.” Boom! Instant camaraderie. Or a very weird look….But there’s a catch. According to Dr. Lisa Diamond, labels are great until they become straightjackets. What starts as “finding yourself” can end up as “trapped by your own curated bio.”
It’s like ordering at a coffee shop: “Can I just get a coffee?”, “Do you mean ethically-sourced, oat-based, lactose-rejected, hyper-sustainable, double-affirmed espresso?” “No… just… coffee. Like, the hot bean water?”
So what happened about being just “human” The desire to shed labels and just be is as strong as ever. Unfortunately, it’s hard to opt out when the world demands a drop-down menu version of your soul.
But here’s a thought: maybe the real revolution isn’t choosing the right label—it’s remembering that you’re allowed to change them. Or ignore them. Or invent your own (I’m currently “emotionally amphibious”).
So, do we all need a label? No. But if you want one, grab one. Try it on. Wear it ironically. Stitch it on a tote bag. Just don’t let it wear you. At the end of the day, you’re more than a label. You’re an inconsistent miracle of thoughts, moods, contradictions, late-night existential crises, and possibly a secret fondness for early 2000s boybands, just like me!
And honestly? That’s enough.
Photo by Angèle Kamp
