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Living Beyond Labels: Reflecting on Identity, Gender, and Society

  • Writer: Dianne Horton
    Dianne Horton
  • Dec 29, 2024
  • 2 min read

Power in society is a tangible force, shaping how people live, interact, and define themselves. Power structures are everywhere—visible in hierarchies, relationships, and the roles we’re expected to play. Reflecting on this, I often think about the concept of gender and the construct it represents. What does it mean to live as a woman, with all the experiences that entails, without being confined by the labels and identities society imposes?


Gender Interactions: A Lens on Relationships


Many ask the question how can I exist fully in society as a woman, with my lived experiences, while not placing too much importance on labels like "man," "woman," or even other identities like "mother" or "professional"?* These labels, while functional, can feel limiting and hard to reconcile with a broader sense of being?


We all live in a world that we shape and inhabit—our environments, our relationships, and our day-to-day interactions. To be “of the world” means to be immersed in these constructs, to engage with people, systems, and expectations as they are. But there’s another perspective: to be “in the world, but not of it.”


This phrase resonates with me deeply. I see myself as existing in this world, I meet people simply as they are, free from preconceived ideas. Whether it’s a doctor, a psychiatrist, a man, or a woman, I approach them without attaching importance to titles or identities.






Many still relate to themselves with an identify, —with a name, a career, and the many roles played in life. This is what it means to be “of the world.” Also, recognise that this is temporary, a construct of conditioning of society.


The world often demands labels for understanding. For instance, I describe myself as a spiritual mentor because it gives others a reference point—a way to relate to me and the work I do. Labels like “mother” and “father” serve a similar purpose: they help us share experiences, communicate, and connect.


Meeting the World with Openness


Ultimately, I live beyond labels. To meet others as they are, without imposing definitions or expectations. To exist in this world with authenticity, while recognising that the identities and roles we play are constructs meant to facilitate connection—not to confine us.


This practice of being “in the world, but not of it” allows for a deeper sense of freedom, where labels lose their power and who we are can truly shine.



 
 
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