Identity terms help people define themselves and other people around them, but they must be used with understanding. Even a small change in seemingly similar words can be offensive and enforce prejudice because of how they were created. For example, “colored people” have a negative connotation in comparison to “people of color” because the first statement was used when racism was institutionalized. I use many terms to describe myself, but the main ones are heterosexual, ciswoman, and feminist. I am heterosexual because it defines my sexuality, which is useful to show that my sexual orientation is not “the default.” I am a ciswoman for this same reason and also because I think that my experience as a female is essential for my development as a person. Finally, I believe that defining myself as a feminist allows me to show which beliefs I support directly.
The theory about metaphors shows that they can hide gendered norms or images. Every person recognizes these metaphors but hardly ever thinks about them. Metaphors can add something poetic to our lives, and we often use them without much thinking. Thus, it is not surprising that ships are almost always called “she.” This links to a metaphor of sea as a character, and often a female one. It shows the idea that nature is often described in female terms. Many other vehicles are also personified as women and can be even called soft names or “capricious” because they have to be “conquered” or are “hard to deal with.” These examples show how metaphors divide the whole world into two groups and add romanticism to this difference. Such comparisons always make “female” objects passive, trickish, or emotional.
I agree with you Tiffany that metaphors can be a dangerous tool of the language. They are often used without being given a second thought. The effects of these metaphors go beyond the moment the word is used or the analogy is made. They continuously portray women in a disadvantageous light and reinforce stereotypes and sexist behaviors.
Hi Tiffany
The terms of identity help people to choose a path, to identify themselves in terms of cultures, way of being and religions. When we talk about our cultures, any word can be offensive, much more when they are addressed to us by our skin tone.
metamorphosis is a process of deep transformation of a person. Human development is understood as an evolutionary succession of “moments” through which the person builds paths and this is a historical, dynamic, and contracted victory process.