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Original poster

What do people mean by “identify as”?

132 replies

StillHappy · 07/08/2022 16:22

The phrase is used a lot, but I can’t find any common definition of it.

It seems to be used to mean “I’d like to be”, or “I’d like to be treated as though I was”, but then some people also seem to use it to mean “all objective measures show I am not, but I really am, as I say I am.”

Is it any of these, none, or some mixture?

I’m a woman, but don’t think I identify as one. I can just see that I am from historic events (namely the children that I gave birth to.)

What is someone who appears not to be a woman asserting it claiming when they say they identify as one?

Is it a different class of claim to, let’s say, someone claiming to be a sensitive caring lover, who isn’t, or a woman identifying as the missing Russian princess, daughter of the last Tsar?

Is anyone who uses this language willing to flesh it out?

OP posts:
PoundPill · 07/08/2022 17:32

If you are a woman you have female chromosomes in your cells so you will always be genetically female in your DNA.

But

You might identify as a male and may even have surgery to remove your breasts

So you will never be a man due to genetics but you can 'identify' as male

Original poster
StillHappy · 07/08/2022 17:31

Is there anyone reading who uses it themselves who could explain what it means to them?

The Paralympic netball team that were able-bodied but identified as disabled, is that any different to Jessica Yaniv identifying as a young girl?

My DH is a doctor of physics; can you “identify as” that, or does it require an award of a doctorate from a registered institution?

OP posts:
RichardMarxisinnocent · 07/08/2022 17:30

I have no idea what it means, and wish someone could explain it to me so I know how to answer surveys and monitoring questionnaires when they ask what gender I identify as. I did fill in a survey earlier which asked me what gender I "associate with" which confused me even more - what on earth does that mean?

Whatwouldscullydo · 07/08/2022 17:27

Well the phrase " identify as" is meaningless anyway unless you can define what it is that you apparently identity as.

And if you can define what it is you identify as then chances are you cant identify as it anyway because then you'd not need to identify as anything because you'd be it, or not be it.

So its an.unecessary phrase tbh.

ScreechingEchoChamber · 07/08/2022 17:20

Yes, it seems to be a case of wanting to be something. Identifying as something is when one is drawn to a certain characteristic or quality and self describes as said thing. The 'identification' seems to be necessary to try and place oneself in a category one is not in. A sort of self-othering?

Original poster
StillHappy · 07/08/2022 17:19

JacquelinePot · 07/08/2022 16:55

As far as I can see "I identify as" = I am not

That feels like a critical part of how it’s used, no-one needs to identify as something that they actually are.

It’s clear what it means when used non-reflexively; an archeologist can identify a coin as Roman, or a victim of crime can identify the suspect as the person who attacked them, but this, the normal, common use, doesn’t match up with the new usage.

There has been a very concerted push to redefine common words in a way that makes it very difficult to discuss (for example) sex, is this phrase just another part of that; a redefinition that is known to confuse, not clarify?

OP posts:
JacquelinePot · 07/08/2022 16:55

As far as I can see "I identify as" = I am not

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