"What do you identify as"

[User09678]

I hope this is allowed as it was inspired by another thread. Asking people what they "identify as" (in this case class) has always made me curious because it seems so often to me that if someone is having to identify as something, then it's because they're often not that thing. Identifying as having a good sense of humour, lol. Let us be the judge of that. But my point is that you can't pick and choose identities, they're really ascribed by wider society and circumstance and reality. Am I being unreasonable? Probably

Entertaining and wise

I identify as many idiots as possible…and add them to my list

With class and nationality it's a legitimate question. How people see themselves is often in conflict with objective facts and others' perceptions.

The 'identify as' phrase came from disability, particularly deafness. Some deaf people and people with other disabilities identify as disabled, others do not - they do not view their condition as a disability.

So in that case, you have to have the thing first, then you can decide whether you want it to form part of your identity.

You still can't control how others see you.

I have a few identities depending on variables-

Non sleeping
Stressed
Fucked off
Given up

Angry

It's bollocks. I'm female. I was born female. I have XY chromosomes.

My DS was asked, age 4, what he identified as when we were getting him a library card. He answered "a chicken sandwich". Makes as much sense as any other answer.

Identify is ridiculous.

You either are something or not.

Luxury beliefs do my head in.

Class is a weird one because it is not something that is solidly defined in society. Only people on the extreme ends of the "spectrum" can confidently say "I am..." and have people agree with them.

I always reply that I don’t identify as anything because I AM a woman. I totally and utterly reject this identity nonsense. I’ve noticed more and more places like Co defences are asking for pronouns for their brochures and names badges, I refuse to give any

A housewife, and that’s how most people see me. It is only a very small part of what I do though.

I identify as a multimillionaire, I'm just waiting for all the money to magically turn up, I don't get why it hasn't arrived yet.

I identify as an accountant.

It is at the core of my being. Many years ago I realised that I problem solve in double entry bookkeeping.

I wish I had my tongue in my cheek but I don't.

I take it as a declaration of how someone wants to be perceived, which can tell you a lot about them in itself, even if it's objectively inaccurate! Generally I assume that someone is saying it because they aren't that thing but want to be seen that way, although I can see how it is useful for people with dual nationality/mixed race who genuinely could consider themselves in different ways.
If I was asked about, say, English/British I'd rather answer with 'I chose to describe myself as... because...' - I can let people know how I feel but I can't control their perception of me.

XX chromosomes!

Tired. Very, very tired.

So pleased to see so many answers like this.

Luxury beliefs indeed

Agree with this.

You only "identify as" for your own perception of yourself. So it's mostly irrelevant to others and real life. My reaction is 'why are you telling me'? I couldn't care less.

It's all down to the navel-gazing trend iof civilizations when they are in decline. Like our Western one.

I have this with my niece at the moment... she says she "identifies" as "non-binary" which she thinks is neither male or female.
I think that's insulting to me as a woman as she sees 'women' as doing "womanly things" which I don't and never have done!
Respect only goes one way apparently!

You can't identify as something you factually aren't. That's nonsense.

Apart from that, I guess you identify as things that are important to your sense of self, which would be things like religion, nationality. I'm not sure I feel strongly enough about anything for it to form part of my identity. 🤷‍♀️

Non-binary is a particularly nonsensical example. Pretty much no one is wholly male or wholly female in terms of how they engage with societal stereotypes. Unless you're Barbie. Or GI Joe.

Francophile.

@Bearsinmotion There are nuances, though… when I was diagnosed with MS 15 years ago, I was told that if (eg) a form asks ‘Are you disabled?’ I legally had to put Yes; ‘Would you identify as disabled?’ could be answered however you chose.

Same 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Welsh, middle aged, overweight, mother and wife.

I'm trans-rich

Well if I asked if I identify as disabled the answer is no. If asked if I have a disability or if I am disabled the answer is yes. I don't identify as short, middle aged or female, I just am all of those things.