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In daily life, people tend to use “labels” to simplify and categorize complex matters, attaching specific tags to them. However, we sometimes apply these “labels” to people as well. The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once said:
“People judge others based on their position, occupation, nationality, and family—in other words, the role and status that social conventions assign to them. As a result, a person is labeled much like a commodity and treated accordingly. As for the individual’s true qualities and who they truly are, people only mention them when convenient, often setting them aside or turning a blind eye.”
Labels imposed by individuals or the media can sometimes lead to stereotypes, raising questions about their accuracy and fairness. For instance, referring to a particular generation as the “Strawberry Generation” or immediately associating South America with “nations that excel at football” reflects how labels can shape perceptions, whether rightly or wrongly.
Reading
The sociologist Howard Becker pointed out: “Once people are labeled a certain way, they tend to become what the label defines them as.” Labels exert a powerful influence on an individual’s self-awareness and identity. When a person is assigned a specific term or designation, they may unconsciously develop in the direction implied by that label.
Many companies leverage this effect by giving employees positive job titles to amplify the power of labels. For example, at Apple’s retail stores, engineers responsible for diagnosing product issues are officially titled “Genius.” This designation subtly encourages them to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, enabling them to provide better advice and technical support to customers. Similarly, Starbucks assigns titles like “Coffee Master” and “Coffee Ambassador” to its employees, symbolizing their expertise in coffee and reinforcing their commitment to professional service.
We, too, can label ourselves—defining our aspirations, aligning our behavior with our chosen labels, and leaving a lasting impression on others. By doing so, we create more opportunities to showcase our personal value.
Question
Based on texts, explain the positive and negative effects of the concept of “labels” when applied to individuals. Limit your response to 80 words (up to 4 lines). (4 points)
In daily life, there are numerous examples of “labeling” or being “labeled.” Please write a short essay, providing examples to explain your views on the phenomenon of labeling. Limit your response to 400 words (up to 19 lines). (21 points)