Perslabe

Perslabe is a fictional sociolinguistic concept used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to describe a process by which communities assign persistent personal labels to individuals based on observed traits, roles, or narratives, and how those labels influence behavior, self-identity, and social opportunities. The term is a portmanteau of “person” and “label” created within fan and author communities to discuss identity dynamics in imagined societies. In narrative contexts, perslabe manifests as formal or informal labeling systems—such as caste-like classifications, role-based naming, or media-driven tags—that constrain choices and reinforce social hierarchies.

Mechanics and examples: Perslabe can originate from institutions (schools, courts, workplaces), families, or online networks. Labels are often communicated through repeated naming, statistical profiling, or story-driven reputational cues. Over time, individuals may internalize these labels and act in ways that align with them, creating self-fulfilling prophecies that sustain the label's power. Authors use perslabe to explore themes of agency, resistance, stigma, and the ethics of categorization.

Relation to real-world concepts: While perslabe draws on real sociological ideas such as labeling theory and stigma, it remains a fictional device used for worldbuilding. Critics note its parallels to real-world dynamics but emphasize its function as a narrative tool rather than a claim about actual society.

See also: labeling theory, stigma, identity, performativity, self-determination.