Welcome to the Labels and Identity Guide! This guide is all about exploring the many parts that make up who you are. Often, we get given labels—like “care experienced”—but those labels don’t tell the whole story. You are so much more than just one label. This guide will help you reflect on all the things that make you, you, and why it’s important to understand the intersectionality of your different identities.
Labels are words or categories that describe a part of who you are. They can come from society, your community, or yourself. Some labels you might hear could be:
Labels can be useful in some ways—they can help you connect with others or explain a part of your experience. But labels are just one part of the story.
No single label can define who you are. You’re made up of many different parts, and all of these parts are important. Think of it like a puzzle—each piece represents a different aspect of your life, and together, they form the full picture of you.
Some questions to think about:
Remember, labels should never limit you or reduce you to just one thing. You can be care experienced and so much more—a friend, a parent, a writer, an artist, or whatever you want.
Intersectionality is a big word, but it’s really just a way of understanding how all the different parts of your identity come together. Each label you have affects your experience in life, and those experiences intersect or overlap with one another.
For example:
By recognising the intersection of your identities, you can better understand how your experiences are shaped by multiple factors at once.
Sometimes, society can put labels on us that don’t feel good. Maybe you’ve been labelled in a way that doesn’t fully capture who you are. Here’s the good news: you get to decide which labels matter and how to define them.
Ways to reclaim your labels:
This guide isn’t about telling you what labels to use or avoid. It’s about encouraging you to think deeply about who you are. The truth is, no one label will ever fully describe you. So, let’s reflect:
Write down all the different labels that might describe you, but don’t stop there. Think about what those labels mean to you, not just how others might use them.
One of the most important things to remember is that labels don’t define your worth. You are not limited by the categories people put you in. Whether society sees you as care experienced, unemployed, or anything else, it doesn’t change your value as a person.
Now that you’ve thought about the many parts of who you are, it’s time to own it. You don’t have to fit neatly into any boxes. Celebrate your intersections, embrace what feels right, and leave behind what doesn’t.
You are more than just one thing. You are everything you choose to be.