I am, first and foremost, a human being

We compartmentalize. It makes the cognitive load on our brains lighter.

We categorize. It makes the world an easier place to understand.

We theorize. It makes the way the world works more palatable.

The aftereffects of my literary theory class are so ridiculous, yet I do enjoy the thinking behind what all of them did.

Gender boundaries. Age boundaries. Class boundaries. Racial boundaries. Cultural boundaries. Intellectual boundaries. Religious boundaries.

So many boundaries, while all the similarities across them are glossed over as anomalies.

Yet, in the end, we all have body parts. We all have a brain, more or less.

Citizen of the world.

I really like that idea because yes, there are differences among people - everyone is different - but those boundaries mean little with the similarities that exist.

What's funny is that I find myself having characteristics of a man and of a middle-aged woman (아즘마). I also have a lot in common with the 4th grader that I'm teaching.

Obviously there are vast differences. Perspective, where we're in life, opinions about the mundane and the important, and all those boundaries.

I think what bothers me about those boundaries is that they exist to classify people and those that don't fall under those classifications are weird, different, free-spirited or what have you. What ends up happening is that those classifications are what people see when they look at a person.

She's a white, female, middle-aged woman who is both blind and deaf.

Knowing those simple things automatically makes us categorize her into certain circles, stereotypes and assumptions. She may not be any of them, but instead of denying our stereotypes, we deny her individuality.

"Oh, she just happens to be different."

There are importances in such categorization, but it's definitely irritating to be subject to such categorization when it's inaccurate.

Sadly to say, despite my dislike of it, I am guilty of doing it as well (try as I might not to).