Label jars, not people.

As a generation, I think we pride ourselves on our non-judgmental natures. We've been fortunate enough to grow up in a time when race, gender, and sexuality are labels that generally make little or no impact on our opinions regarding people. Thanks to the work of our ancestors, as a whole we like to think that we're pretty open minded, with a very small proportion of us forming the exception. 

Still, labels do exist and are used as definitions, even if not as a form of judgement. Just look at sexuality. Are you hetrosexual, homosexual, pansexual, bisexual, omnisexual, bicurious or asexual? Hang on a minute, hands up, who Googled at least one? That's 7 labels for just one personal characteristic. Maybe it's just me, but it all seems a little unnecessary. 

If I had to describe my sexual orientation, I'd use the term "straight". I'm attracted to guys and not girls, ignoring the occasional "girl crush" (hi, Cara)! Still, I don't feel that aptly describes me as a person. I mean, if I were to meet a girl and fall in love I wouldn't say something like, "Sorry, I really like you, I think we could have a future together plus I'm attracted to you, but I'm straight. So we can't be together." Granted, I can't imagine myself with another girl right now, but it would be utterly ignorant and rather foolish to say that I never will be. The future can hold anything, after all. 

Consequently, such labels seem to become somewhat irrelevant. If they can change any second with an adaptation in life events, they don't hold much meaning despite their apparent accuracy in the moment. This does lead me to ponder the question of why we still continue to use them. We don't judge people as a consequence, supposedly at least, so it's quite perplexing why we feel the need to disclose such information using labels. Nobody is put in a class for being most attracted to blonde women or men in glasses, yet gender still has a huge influence over our descriptions of people.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, that the world would be a much easier place to navigate if people weren't pressured into giving a name to themselves purely based on who they're attracted to. Maybe one day it'll happen or maybe it's wishful thinking, but I can't help but hope that soon people will just love who they want to, without question.

 “The bottom line is that we never fall for the person we're supposed to.” 
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

Bethany Paige X

Just so all of you know, if you ever need help with problems regarding sexuality or anything really I'm always here (even if it is behind a screen). So, don't hesitate to drop me an email at paigeoffashion@hotmail.co.uk or contact me via twitter @PaigeOfFashion. I'm happy to help where I can.