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Isn't it interesting that we were reading a book about diversity and for the reading, we were all given the choice to read the chapters we wanted and we all read different sections?

I went home on the Blue Bus, after Tuesday's class, struggling with why we categorize? Why does Michael have to be our guy friend and Susan have to be nice? I kept saying that it was because it helps us simplify things but isn't it just more complicated? While I may think Susan is nice, her mother may find her inconsiderate.

However it does simplify things. If we didn't have the category of food/edibles, I might have to spend 5 hours in the kitchen tasting the cookbooks, the seran wrap, the cutting board, when I could have pulled up the category "food" in my head and knew what to stick into my mouth to overcome my hunger.

But people aren't food. We don't fit into a specific category and more so, if we do try to put ourselves there, we usually don't fit all the requirements for that category. Better yet, we don't always stay in that category. How many of us were considered 'tomboys' only to start dressing like 'a lady'?

I just don't know if I can part with categories just yet. It's easy thinking about the term 'writing utensils' and knowing to look for either a pen, or pencil or marker. However, I don't want categories to limit us. I want things and people to be able to change, and evolve, and just be complex. Yes, a pen can be used to write but couldn't it equally be a good tool for keeping your hair off your back? Yes, a lot of men are known for not being 'emotional' but when Jack is, does he have to risk not being considered a man?

Which leads me to ask, why do we even want to be in some categories? Why do we even want our men to act like men? And who the hell decided what a man was? I'd like to meet this person.

Asia