Political Correctness and Its Impact
Political correctness is a concept that refers to language and other policies or practices intended to protect groups from discrimination. This includes a range of policies, such as sensitivity training and zero-tolerance policies, that aim to avoid offending members of different groups.
Addressing Discrimination against Underrepresented Groups
This is especially true for people from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women and people of color. While these groups were once vulnerable to discrimination, laws and social norms have changed in recent decades to reduce discrimination against them.
The Need for Civility and Respect in Daily Interactions
In the past 40 years, legal and cultural changes have ushered unprecedented numbers of women and people of color into companies' professional and managerial ranks. This, in turn, has created new expectations for civility and respect in daily interactions.
Debate and Free Speech
However, despite these improvements, some say that political correctness has become a distraction from important debates and a threat to free speech. Some see it as a danger to the diversity of ideas and institutions, while others believe that it is a necessary safeguard against censorship by those who have power over how ideas are presented.
The Origins and Evolution of Political Correctness
The origins of political correctness can be traced back to the nascent Black Power movement in the 1960s. This movement was a splinter off of the earlier Civil Rights Movement and focused on racial identity rather than universal rights. As it moved to the forefront of liberal politics and academic debates, political correctness gained momentum. It was used by Black Power advocates to criticize the orthodoxy of liberal thought, and eventually became co-opted by conservatives to attack what they perceived as left-wing extremism.
Challenges and Controversies
Many people who have experienced the negative effects of political correctness are now trying to change it, arguing that it has gone too far and needs to be reined in. One example is the cancellation culture, which seeks to hold people accountable for their words and actions and has resulted in numerous examples of celebrities being canceled because of racially offensive comments they made online. Another case involves the controversy over model Kendall Jenner's photoshoot dressed as a ballerina. Some people felt that this was a form of "cultural appropriation," and it ruffled feathers among some of the ballet community.
Diversity and Sensitivity in Multicultural Societies
While these issues may not directly lead to the death of children, they are concerns for social workers and others working in multicultural societies. Episodes like the recent death of 8-year-old Anna Climbie in Wales raise concerns about the lack of sensitivity to the diversity of families and communities.
Unfair Judgments and Identity Crisis
In other cases, a person may feel he or she is being unfairly judged for their gender, sexual orientation, or religion. This can lead to a sense of disillusionment with the world and cause people to question their own identity.
The Internet's Influence on the Debate
This issue has also gotten more attention in recent years thanks to the rise of the internet and its proliferation of content. There are now so many outlets that people can share opinions and perspectives with a broad audience, and those opinions can be wildly divergent. This can create confusion and division between people with very different views, and it can also lead to a lot of content that is inflammatory or inaccurate. This has prompted many to ask whether there is a risk of losing valuable ideas and institutions, and if there is, how do we deal with it?
