DIVERSITY TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't Get Boxed by Labels

It is common for people to spend a lot of energy trying to figure out the identities of others, like whether someone is Latina or Arab or whether someone is male or female.   When we don't know the demographic specifics of a person's identity, we tend to feel uncomfortable.  We may avoid someone who is gender non-conforming, because of our own need to relate to people based on their gender. We may feel awkward with someone whose ethnicity is indistinct, because we are used to having only some conversations with Whites and other conversations with People of Color.  Instead, we should push ourselves to get beyond our need to label and box, because this limits our openness to others and rich opportunities to learn. As you engage with others in the near future, just notice where you find yourself struggling to place identity labels on others.

--Contributed by Jenny Denton, Office of Diversity & Inclusion

For more information, contact:

Jenny Denton

Office of Diversity & Inclusion

+1 301 405 6810

denton@umd.edu

www.diversity.umd.edu