Label (sociology)

In sociology, a label is an abstract concept that is used to group people together based on their perceived or held identity. The general function of labels is to serve as a method of distinction that helps people recognize one product from another. In social terms, labels represent a way of differentiating and identifying people. When an individual uses or has been assigned a particular label, it can change the actions and behavior of the individual to align with the expectations associated with said label.^[1] This process was termed the "self-fulfilling prophecy" by sociologist Robert Merton, and plays an important role in labeling theory. Labels may help individuals form a sense of community with others using the same label, or they may ostracize individuals from general society.^[1]

Some common methods of 'labeling' people derive from a general way of perceiving members of a certain nationality, religion, ethnicity, gender, or some other group. When a majority of people hold a certain point of view towards a certain group, that point of view becomes a stereotype. That stereotype affects the way other people perceive the groups in question and the result is a 'label' that is metaphorically imposed on the members of the group in question. A member of a targeted group is thus 'labeled' by the larger society, and along with it, the nuances underlying the label, be it positive or negative, that aids in the formation of social stereotypes.

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