On "Political Correctness"
Not long ago, I was playing in a poker game with some friends and late in the game when there were only four of us left in the room (two white guys, a Jewish guy, and an Asian woman), the Jewish guy started to quote the famous line from Notorious BIG’s classic “Juicy,” which begins, “and if ya don’t know, now ya know…” He naturally stopped at that point, as the word that followed is not one that he should be saying — regardless of the fact that he was singing homemade karaoke. Unfortunately, the other white guy in the room finished the lyric. After making my feelings known about the usage of that word, our fourth member pointed out that she “always says n*gg*r in songs.”
That’s right. The hard “R” and everything.
I made my feelings known once again (and to be clear, my feelings are that if you’re not black, you shouldn’t use that word — regardless of context). Now the guy who originally started the lyric piped up with a sarcastic, “Yeah, you’re a horrible person and you’re going to hell because you said that. Don’t you know?” They exchanged laughs and he added, “Yeah, I’m not on board with all this politically correct shit.” The woman agreed.
This sentiment about “political correctness” is something I hear constantly, and in my experience, it’s been *typically* straight, white, cis, Americans who I hear saying it. I hear it from my family, from my friends, from old classmates, and I see it across many forms of media.
And it makes my freaking blood boil every time.
According to Wikipedia, the term “Politically Correct” is used to describe:
“…language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. Since the late 1980s, the term has come to refer to avoiding language or behavior that can be seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting groups of people considered disadvantaged or discriminated against, especially groups defined by sex or race.”
All positive stuff so far. But it then continues…
“In public discourse and the media, it is generally used as a pejorative, implying that these policies are excessive or unwarranted.”
What’s wild is that this seemingly small addition at the end of the definition is the only element of the term that people seem to care about these days.
Some historical perspective…
Prior to the 1980s, the phrase did not bring with it a negative connotation. It existed for centuries before that across many English-speaking cultures and countries, yet it didn’t take on a negative connotation in the mainstream until this tipping point in the US in the 1980s. Before that, it was primarily used only to refer to political orthodoxies and alignment (for example, if someone proposed a policy that was in line with their own political party’s values, that would have been a “politically correct” proposal). So, what happened?
Well, there were two primary events that sprang P.C. into the mainstream. The first was the publishing of the book, The Closing of the American Mind, by Alan Bloom in 1987. This introduced the term as an indictment against institutions limiting instructors in academia. And for the next 3 years, it stayed in publications on our college and university campuses. That is, until the second event happened.
Beginning in 1990, the New York Times published a series of articles by Richard Bernstein (1990) and Robert D. McFadden (1991) in which the term was introduced to the American public and the meaning was expanded-
“What has come to be called “political correctness,” a term that began to gain currency at the start of the academic year last fall, has spread in recent months and has become the focus of an angry national debate, mainly on campuses, but also in the larger arenas of American life.
— “Political Correctness: New Bias Test?” — Robert D. McFadden”
Now the game was on. Suddenly, the term was being applied almost universally in the political arena, but not as a check on the accuracy of action amongst policymakers, but as an allegation against the very perception of liberal opinions, ideologies, and efforts that could be in conflict with a conservative agenda. This was exemplified by a speech that then-president George H.W. Bush delivered at the University of Michigan commencement ceremony, where he said, “The notion of political correctness has ignited controversy across the land. And although the movement arises from the laudable desire to sweep away the debris of racism and sexism and hatred, it replaces old prejudice with new ones. It declares certain topics off-limits, certain expression off-limits, even certain gestures off-limits.”
Since then, the term has taken on almost that precise application across the board: Political Correctness is an attempt to halt free thought and free speech. It is the enemy of the free person. It’s “the man” trying to keep you under his thumb. It’s used in political debates, stump speeches, and while it’s primarily been used by more conservative politicians and pundits, the phrase has even been used by liberals themselves, such as TV personality Bill Maher in his program.
It’s both a weapon of choice and a badge of honor amongst those who wield it.
Now, the bastardization of the term over the course of these past few decades is enough to get any sane person bothered — especially since it’s used in such consequential arenas. For me, however, it’s not the misuse or evolution of the term that bothers me most. Rather, it’s the smugness oozing out of the accuser stemming from some unwarranted self-pride in assigning the label that makes me seethe. There have been plenty of words and phrases that have been twisted and adulterated over the course of human history. I accept that. What I refuse to accept is the fact that the term is being used as a deflection shield for someone simply not giving a shit about other people, and on top of that, the fact that this person actually thinks that’s worth bragging about.
Let’s be clear. These days, when you say that you hate “P.C. culture,” what you are typically saying is that you’re annoyed by the fact you have to actually think about the words that you use and the impact that they have on others before you say/write them. Either that, or that you don’t like to be made to feel guilty because you didn’t consider someone else. You are saying that other people are being too sensitive rather than acknowledging that you are possibly being insensitive.
Think about this for a moment: In an age when someone can access more information and linguistic options than ever before in human history; in a time when each person with a smartphone quite literally has access to a thesaurus at his or her fingertips; some people think that it’s too much work to simply think more about the words that they say to avoid the risk of harming another human psychologically — which, over time can lead to damaging, even fatal consequences. And oftentimes the excuse for this is that the other person is being too sensitive. They just need to “toughen up.” Some people are just offended by everything.
There is an implication is behind these excuses, even if it’s an unintentional one. When people say things like this, what they’re conveying is that their way of thinking and feeling is the correct way, and therefore, if someone feels differently, they’re wrong. He/she knows how people should feel better than they do. And in doing so, this person immediately (even if unconsciously) nullifying the experiences and knowledge of everyone that feels differently than they do.
I love the way that Vincent Hutchings, a professor of American politics at the University of Michigan, describes the usage of politically correct in today’s social and political climate. He illustrates it as a “kind of linguistic jujitsu” to disable an opponent’s argument. It’s this weird, back-handed way of talking down to someone about the way they think or feel, or what they prioritize in the human experience. It’s a convenient catch-all retort when someone is challenging convention, tradition, or simply trying to get us to open our perspective and think more about how we impact others.
I will be the first one to admit that it can be hard to keep up with every culturally acceptable change in the US. It feels like the majority is learning the existence of more and more subcultures and minorities every single day, and yes, it can be a lot to remember. I slip up sometimes, too. And yes, I have definitely seen someone complaining or saying, “That’s not funny!” and I think to myself, “Oh, come on. You know what they meant,” or, “quit taking everything so seriously.” But then I realize that I’m not in their shoes. I don’t know what’s going on in their life — what they’ve been through. And while I wish that they, too, would think about what’s being said from a perspective other than their own, I can only control my thoughts and actions and hope that my example can inspire others. So I give them the benefit of the doubt and try to be more mindful as a result. And maybe when they see that others are making an effort, perhaps they will, too. It’s actually surprisingly easy to do.
What stands out to me is that most of the, “people are just too easily offended/need to toughen up” crowd are essentially refusing to raise their own personal bar. They are degrading someone else because they’re refusing to grow in some form or fashion (ex- “they need thicker skin”), and yet are refusing to grow in the process (i.e.- they refuse to think harder about their word choice).
So, next time you’re thinking about talking about how “out of hand” our culture is with Political Correctness these days, here are some things to consider-
If you just “didn’t mean it that way,” I have some bad news for you. No one can see your intent. We can only see your actions and hear your words. So make sure they match.
If your “other friend Jake is [insert targeted group from your phrase], and he’s ok with me saying it,” well, we’re not all Jake. Nor do we have the relationship with you that Jake does. So act accordingly.
And wild guess here…Jake’s probably not too enthused about you using that term either. He just lets you get away with it because of your existing relationship.If you’re “just singing the lyrics that the artist wrote, so I’m not saying it in a hateful way,” you’re still not the artist or a member of that in-group. Just because you may pick on your little brother all the time, that doesn’t make it okay for everyone outside the family to start picking on your little brother. Same principle applies.
If someone, “needs a reality check/thicker skin/to toughen up/to not be so sensitive,” perhaps ask yourself what makes you the “anointed one” to teach of that lesson? Do you love it when someone that you don’t know rolls up next to you with road rage about how you’ve been driving and tries to lecture you about it at a stoplight? Well, stop trying to impose your will and values on someone else in a similar fashion.
If “that word wasn’t offensive when we were growing up,” guess what? It probably was, but those who were victimized by it just didn’t have the platform to legitimately bring it up. And even if not — suck it up buttercup. It’s not ok to say now. Struggling finding a replacement word or phrase? Grab a thesaurus or hop on the internet where you can find tons of other wonderful replacements. Worst case scenario? If you’ve ever had to explain to someone, “that’s not what I meant. When I say it, I mean…” just skip directly to the thing you would say right after that. See? You can do this.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that we have to stop lowering our own personal bar by pretending that it’s everyone else’s job to change. Stop using Political Correctness as an excuse for being an asshole or intentionally choosing to ignore the impact that your words are having on others. You want someone to change? How about starting with yourself?