Lucia
Barbagallo
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This registration form is a requirement for guests seeking a bed in a hostel. I encountered this questionnaire during my backpacking journey in the summer of 2007. As I began to fill it out, I was struck by a sense of discomfort. Why is it necessary to label ourselves in such specific ways? Do we truly need to gather all of this detailed information about individuals? Is declaring our ethnic or racial group really essential? What should matter most is our shared humanity. This form felt so out of touch and bizarre that I felt compelled to make it public, rather than allow it to gather dust in my notebook. It raises crucial questions about the way we define ourselves and the information we willingly share.