Categories
The moment someone enters a category, we begin seeing the category instead of the person.
Field Notes
Some people are deeply invested in classification. They sort one another by nationality, religion, race, profession, politics, generation, culture, and countless other distinctions.
These categories are often treated as if they reveal something essential. Yet prolonged observation produced an unexpected result.
Members of opposing groups displayed remarkably similar fears, hopes, insecurities, loyalties, and desires. They worried about the people they loved. They sought belonging. They feared loss. They celebrated milestones. They struggled to be understood.
The categories remained visible throughout the study, but their explanatory power steadily declined. No clear boundary separating “us” from “them” could be located. Further observation suggests that “them” may be a classification error rather than a distinct group.