Identity Markers

In intentional relationships, identity markers function as terms of reference used to articulate specific experiences that can be difficult for people without the same experiences to understand. When used as labels these identifiers can help indicate boundaries, so that each person can flourish without default expectations limiting our different ways of being.

If you’re not someone who values identity markers for your own sake - I recommend reading about why labels are valuable to many people with minority experiences, and considering which of your experiences function as the default category due to an aspect of your identity aligning with the overrepresented-majority or another form of privilage.

Articulating our identity markers can help provide terms that function as a starting-point for conversations about an aspect of identity and/or as a short-hand way to articulate any related boundaries that we need others to respect. Likewise, taking the time to understand how someone is using their identity markers can help to understand how they think about themselves, the world, and their ways of relating to others.

Note that many identity markers carry negative-associations as pejorative terms despite having been reclaimed for self-identification within the relevant communities. As there remains the possibility of causing harm if used out-of-context, care is needed. As such, terms used as identity-marker concepts by people within marginalised groups should only be used by those for whom the relevant concept helps to describe an aspect of self-identification and community-alignment.

Types of identity markers

There are many different types, the following are just an unsorted list crossing a range of types to highlight the scope of these tools for articulating experiences such as:

• Attraction (e.g., demisexual, panromantic)
• Gender (e.g. genderqueer, transgender)
• Community-based identity (e.g., Deaf, Queer)
• Intergenerational/accumulative disadvantage (e.g., Aboriginal, Black)
• Non-normative approaches to relationships (e.g., childfree, polyamorous)
• Outlier traits (e.g., neuroatypical, kinky)
• Systemic disadvantages (e.g., disabled, person-of-colour, intersex)
• Acknowledgement of privilege (e.g., White, cis-gender, tertiary-educated)

Examples Uses of Identity Markers:

• Some Identity Markers I Use (Teq, 2020).

Attribution & Contact

See attribution notes and contact details