how do you handle it when people try to define who you are, like pigeon hole, & try to stake claim to who you?

Question

are?
this makes me angry, but also, how do you handle it?

Answer 1

here's the thing, you can only define yourself and whatever other people say is thier opinion not everyone would say the same thing. It's up to you to ignore it if its completely useless, or analyse it.

Answer 2

Can't let such people get to you.

As a "non believer" I've seen it plenty of times on this site alone, people of certain beliefs that pretty much demand how we are as people (or any of us that aren't them for that matter). That's probably one of the only ones that really bothers me. Trying to tell us who we are when they aren't even in our shoes to know! But what can you do...but mentally flip them off and walk away.

Although sometimes a humor approach can work... So sometimes the non believer group just agree that yes, we eat babies and pillage small towns. lol

Answer 3

since i don't fit the stereotypes, i let my credentials speak for themselves and people find out on their own. example?

i'm a black female, i don't have any kids out of wedlock, i'm married, i graduated college with a 3.8 gpa and i'm working on my doctorate, my hubby is college-educated & has a great job, he isn't a drug dealer and has never been to jail. we own a home, we don't have gold teeth, and both of our families are upper class, so we aren't from the ghetto. we speak intelligently and we're well-read.

to me, there's no need to argue or defend myself when people assume that i fit a stereotype. i've had tons of encounters in 99% white MN when we recently moved here. people realize on their own who they are dealing with, so i don't have to go out of my way to make a point.

Answer 4

It happens everyday of my life, even my family does it. They know what I believe and how I will say it. At times I feel different about things but my family and friends already know me.

Answer 5

Well, it is just their opinion of me, and if left to what others have accused me of being, I might as well have shot myself years ago..always have faith in who you know you are, and NEVER let anyone tell you different about yourself, or cause you to have self doubt in that mind of yours.

Answer 6

If you mean someone is labelling you, you do not accept it, refuse all claims, your choice, their problem.