"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

Depends on the day really.
Good day im me a woman what else could i be.
A bad day i identify as a fuck you fuck off im not in the fucking mood.

I later corrected that . . .

I've never identified as female, or lesbian or any other thing. I was observed to be female and I comply with the definition of lesbian. I have been too busy living my life to even think about identifying as anything.

I am tall (157cm)
I am fast (can push out a sub 30 5k on a good day)
I am strong (can squat just under 50% of my body weight, but struggle to open jars)

I identify as all of the above regardless of reality.

It is little more than personality and preferences

I'm not a "person with a cervix" I'm a woman.

Heard from a colleague that she's not paying her TV licence this year as her TV identifies as a microwave...😆

That is it exactly. It just sounds more special and important if you call it an identity.

If you re-read my comment you'll realise I was talking about actualy parts of my identity, not that I self-identify as those things. I am a woman, I am a non-brit etc. Those are facts that make up my identity, I don't choose them. I don't have to say "I identify as..." before any of those statements. It's very clear that I'm not listing anything identifying- that's the whole point.

I then go on to say people self identify certain characteristics such as having a disability, and that it's a problem for everyone else, as we're the ones who get told off for not innately knowing how they identify.

I do then go on to question if self-identifying as these things should be challenged- further proving that my point is "These things are not identifying".

Reading comprehension is vital.

"Reading comprehension is vital." As are writing skills. It's not at all clear that you are not listing anything identifying.

Yes, you refer to defining your own identity but you then go on to state that you identify as a woman etc. These are not things you can identify as. You either are or you are not. You being those things do certainly contribute to your identity though, as your identity consists of factual elements (e.g. your sex, your nationality etc) and personal beliefs you have about yourself (e.g. believing you are funny).

Hungry most of the time. Tired the rest!

Wife, Mum, sister, friend, foster carer

Is that really a “heated debate”? Just seems yo be bigots being willfully annoying (they never have this “heated debate” over Italian-Americans or Irish-Americans, or Asian-Americans……)

35 but I’m 58

I don’t really get what you mean? You can both “be” something and also “identify” as it. It’s not either / or. The intersection between race, nationality and ethnicity is a common one.

I am working class and also identify as working class due to my background even if some would not see me that way.

Similarly I know plenty of birracial people who identify as one of their identities for multiple reasons.

YANBU

As much as I identify as a grumpy old woman and a pensioner, HMRC insists I'm still working age.

I am female
I am white British
I am over 70
I identify as fabulous💃

This clarifies the difference between verifiable facts and feelings (aka identity). The first three points can be proven beyond doubt. The last point is personal feelings. We are all entitled to our feelings but cannot force them on others. In other words, someone can say they feel fabulous but cannot force others to tell that person they are fabulous. It is a pretty important distinction.

I have always been, and intend to remain, unlabelled😁

My next t shirt will have “Enigma” on it.

The human race is obsessed with labels of one sort or another. Usually to it’s detriment. That’s why so many are totally f’ed up mentally. 😵‍💫

I suppose I identify with the cultured working class amongst us if I have to be classified as something. That's a label I am comfortable with. Hope that answers your question properly.

I haven't met anyone who asks such ridiculous questions, thankfully 🙄.

Exactly! You can tell me you identify as a cabbage and that's your business - good for you - but nobody can force me to believe or state a falsehood by agreeing with you.

A lot of people on this thread seem to be fundamentality misunderstanding the concept of 'identity'. You can 'be' something and 'identify' as something.

Also, everyone has a self-created identity of some sort. People who say 'I don't identify as anything. I am something' don't understand that what they consider they 'are' is often just a subjective identity anyway.

A skint women from stoke on Trent

I agree, 'identify as' suggests an element if choice. Who you are isnt a choice it just is.

I don't know, the uk class system is mad and I've not idea what I am.
Grew up working class in north east, first gen uni, now live in south east, work in a profession, am qualified, and earn more relatively than my parents would.
Not sure what tf I'm meant to be, but I don't really care.