Generation Bubelah: Labels and Jewish identity

Each time I meet someone, and they find out that I write about Jewish identity, or what it means to be Jewish without being religiously Jewish, all of a sudden the only thing they want to talk with me about is Judaism. We could be having a conversation about birds, and that then brings up different places where birds migrate, soon we get to Israel, and then I'm being told that it's possible there may be Jewish birds. Or we could be talking about maybe taking continuing education classes somewhere to keep our minds active, and they ask me if I'm interested in taking Hebrew language classes, or they recommend a great Jewish film, book, etc. Of course, don't get me wrong, most of what my friends and strangers say about Judaism, or recommend to me I have an interest in, but when did having an interest in something become the only thing you are?
 
The idea that I can be put into so many different boxes, labeled, and put aside has always been a hot topic for me. My labels: American, Woman, Caucasian, Writer, Editor, Jew. The minute these definitions are put on the page, there is a clear image that appears in ones mind. When people ask where I'm from and I say, "the United States," they lift their chin. If I'm a little moody, people say, "is it that time of the month?" When I say, "gosh I really need some coffee," people say, "you're such a white girl". If I tell someone I'm a writer, they assume I drink, smoke, read, and feel depression more than most. If I say I am an editor, people think glasses, skirt suit, and pens. And when I let non-Jews know I’m Jewish, they lean in and tell me all the other Jewish people they’ve known, or holidays they've celebrated, and that they've always thought Judaism was a cool religion. Okay, maybe I'm generalizing; actually, I know I am, but the point is that I'm kind of sick of being defined by, well, everything.
 
Is there a way to be label free? Because I get lost one day, does that mean I will forever be targeted as the girl who has no sense of direction? You could argue that either people don't let themselves change or grow out of pre-existing labels. Or maybe people do grow, but no one chooses to see it. The idea that trumps them all, however, is that the "other" has an idea of what a person "should" be because of the box he or she fits into. And for this, whomever is in the box, will remain there, forever.
 
Can you be strongly one thing or another without being labeled as something? Because you are identified as something, do you have to become a spokesperson for the cause? Isn't it enough to just be? Have we become such an advertising / market driven society that people, like soft drinks and deodorants, need labels and lists of "features" to be understood? Sometimes I wonder if it is possible to be a Jew without being "the Jew."
 
My grandmother identified with her Jewish heritage so much that her friendships were largely based on shared beliefs, but that was not a branding issue so much as it was a basis of relating to one another. She and her friends had similar experiences and so they formed friendships. They understood each other. With today's society, it's more like cultural and ethnic collecting; I have a Jewish friend here, a black friend there and wait, don't forget the Latino, Muslim, and Italian from over there. The more different kinds of people you have in your life, the more culturally aware you seem to be.

For me it's strange to think of Judaism as an ethnicity; however, based on the way some people treat my Jewish label, it seems to fit. So really it makes me wonder how Judaism, if a religion can also be viewed as an ethnicity? What I came up with was that discrimination against Jews for their religious beliefs transformed Judaism into more than a religion, and Israel. Ethnicity and place are frequently smashed together. And here we add more generic boxes to suffocate our individuality.
 
Someone from Panama is maybe different from a Mexican or Nicaraguan, and yet they are lumped together in most people's minds, same with Cubans and Puerto Ricans. If you're French you;re from France and if you're French-Canadian you're from Canada. It says nothing about your religion, only your location. If you're Turkish you're from Turkey, but could be Christian, Muslim, etc. However, with Israel, most people automatically think, Jew. And when I tell people I'm Jewish, they automatically think Israel.
 
Why do we create labels, so we feel more comfortable? So that things are easier to understand? And isn't it just another form of prejudice? It would be crazy to think that the world all of a sudden could stop labeling; however, what about the individual? Is there something that the individual can do to make it stop?