Big and small; rich or poor; hard working or useless; good or bad, spoilt, mouthy, opiniated are a few of the labels I’ve heard people stick on each other, and about individuals they don’t even know!

I grew up with these thappas. It was especially prevalent to kids or people who were NRI’s (Non- Resident Indians). Just because they grew up outside Bharat desh, they are spoilt and entitled brats.

Every life has the right to live and be the way they need to be, yet society has taken it upon themselves to judge, conclude and stick on labels. And pray, who gave them the right? Even children are not spared. If kids are throwing tantrums in stores or at homes, “God! That kid is so undisciplined, or, they have too much freedom.”

And women? If you’re a women, don’t even wait for it… it’ll just come out without any prompting or provocation! Like. if she lives alone, she’s probably living off of someone; if she drinks she’s morally wrong; if she ignores comments or gives a reply that’s not acceptable then she’s mannerless and rude. If she’s living well, she must be having rich parents or a sugar daddy. If you strive to train in any “manly field”, she’s a tomboy or lesbian. Some of these statements goes for men too, by the way. How we sit, stand, act, laugh, every single thing is under scrutiny.

It’s tiring to meet the standard of “perfection” society demands all the time.

Have any of you faced such scrutiny? Are there labels I haven’t mentioned? How does one come by labels in your place? Do tell!

Until next time…