Correctly Political: A Look into the Dynamics of Political Correctness
Every American probably knows what it means to be politically correct.
After all, we hear about it on the news almost every night. We have to be
constantly aware of whether or not something we say or do is going to offend
someone. This mode of communication is present in every aspect of our lives,
from the most formal to the most informal situations.
This paper will answer questions on the origin of the term ‘politically
correct' and the applications of the communication pattern it refers to: who
started it, who is doing it, and why. Is political correctness a good idea? Is
it too pervasive?
Varying opinions on the definition of political correctness exist. For
the purposes of this writing the most concise definition available has been
selected. Political Correctness refers to matters of inclusive speech, advocacy
of nonracist, nonageist, nonsexist terminology, and insistence on affirmative
action policies, avoidance of Eurocentrism as reflected in a "traditional" canon
of literature, acceptance of multiculturalism as a valued feature of American
society, and dismantling hierarchy as controlled by a white male power structure.
(Hoover and Howard 963)
In a nutshell, political correctness is an attempt at changing the way
we look at things. The goal is to be respectful of all people and cultures.
Unfortunately, in the process of fostering understanding, the culture and ideas
that are presently embraced must be discredited and virtually destroyed. This "
traditionalist" power structure is constantly under fire in the debate over
political correctness. Nontraditionalists have proposed that we "regard the
creation of a culturally diverse community as not just fair, but as a valued
objective in its own right." (qtd. in Hoover and Howard 967) In order to fully
understand the effects of politically correct thinking, it is necessary to see
it through time to its present state.
There is... [continues]
Every American probably knows what it means to be politically correct.
After all, we hear about it on the news almost every night. We have to be
constantly aware of whether or not something we say or do is going to offend
someone. This mode of communication is present in every aspect of our lives,
from the most formal to the most informal situations.
This paper will answer questions on the origin of the term ‘politically
correct' and the applications of the communication pattern it refers to: who
started it, who is doing it, and why. Is political correctness a good idea? Is
it too pervasive?
Varying opinions on the definition of political correctness exist. For
the purposes of this writing the most concise definition available has been
selected. Political Correctness refers to matters of inclusive speech, advocacy
of nonracist, nonageist, nonsexist terminology, and insistence on affirmative
action policies, avoidance of Eurocentrism as reflected in a "traditional" canon
of literature, acceptance of multiculturalism as a valued feature of American
society, and dismantling hierarchy as controlled by a white male power structure.
(Hoover and Howard 963)
In a nutshell, political correctness is an attempt at changing the way
we look at things. The goal is to be respectful of all people and cultures.
Unfortunately, in the process of fostering understanding, the culture and ideas
that are presently embraced must be discredited and virtually destroyed. This "
traditionalist" power structure is constantly under fire in the debate over
political correctness. Nontraditionalists have proposed that we "regard the
creation of a culturally diverse community as not just fair, but as a valued
objective in its own right." (qtd. in Hoover and Howard 967) In order to fully
understand the effects of politically correct thinking, it is necessary to see
it through time to its present state.
There is... [continues]
Cite This Essay
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(1999, 10). Correctly Political: a Look Into the Dynamics of Political Correctness. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 1999, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Correctly-Political-Look-Into-Dynamics-Political-4077.html
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"Correctly Political: a Look Into the Dynamics of Political Correctness" StudyMode.com. 10 1999. 10 1999 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Correctly-Political-Look-Into-Dynamics-Political-4077.html>.
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"Correctly Political: a Look Into the Dynamics of Political Correctness." StudyMode.com. 10, 1999. Accessed 10, 1999. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Correctly-Political-Look-Into-Dynamics-Political-4077.html.
