Identities without Labels
There is a longstanding debate about the harms and benefits of appealing to identities and using identity labels in social, political, and academic contexts. If it would be better to have a language without identity labels, we should minimize the use of labels that are already in use, and not introduce more. While there are potential harms with both labeling lacunae and with using labels, by considering the interplay of power, the interests and epistemic positions of the powerful and marginalized, and the role self-labeling plays, I argue that the introduction and usage of labels for both dominant and marginalized identities is apt to have positive effects. Identity labels do not, in general, bring more bad than good.