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Using “Introvert” Isn’t a Slur
How many times must I reiterate it’s not about being shy
Imagine me trying to describe to my mother what being an introvert means, and her trying everything she can to not accept the word like I am calling myself the worst word in the dictionary. Like it’s a degradation of my character. Or perhaps, a degradation of the daughter she thought she raised.
“But your cousins are like that. After [cousin] parties, he also needs to go to bed and be with his family, as well.”
Not even remotely comparable. First off: I don’t even attend parties. Second: my cousin parties until dawn when he’s slurring his words, of course he would want to (and need to) go to bed after that.
Let me just remind everyone about what the nature of introversion is: it’s simply about where your energy comes from. Some people get energized through external, social interaction with other people. They get drained by solitude. These are extroverts. On the other hand, introverts lose energy through social interaction and instead recharge through solitude.
As a reminder, having an introverted personality doesn’t necessarily equate to shyness or social anxiety. You can still enjoy the company of others, it may just be with a select group of people you’re close with. And perhaps you’ll need to…
