Political Correct Language
Political
correctness is a safe haven for language that allows expression in a respectful
and neutral manner. Most of society embraces the unstated decree of the equality
that inspires political correctness and most of us approve the modifications in
the norms created by that decree. For some of us, being politically correct
means making the effort not to offend by selecting words that show our respect
for and sensitivity to the needs and interests of others (Gamble and Gamble,
2013 pg. 88). For example, The Official Politically Correct Dictionary and Handbook express
the term “lazy” as “motivationally deficient”, “ugly” as “cosmetically
different” and “fat” as “horizontally challenged”. Politically correct language
can help take the sting out of confrontations by blunting the sharpness of our
words (Gamble and Gamble, 2013 pg. 88).
However, there are individuals in society that are troubled by the hurdles that political correctness can generate. For example, think about these scenarios: A white manager fears he will be perceived as racist if he gives critical feedback to his Latino subordinate. A black sales associate passed over for a promotion wonders whether his race has anything to do with it, but he’s reluctant to raise this concern for fear that he may be seen as “playing the race card.” In cultures controlled by political correctness, individuals sense judgment and dread being accused. Individuals for the most part are concerned in what ways they are perceived by others. They feel subdued and petrified to speak up about the most ordinary issues directly. Recently, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, took to Twitter on Tuesday to complain: “In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness. If we speak we say it the wrong way, if we do not speak we are cowards….” The Twitter commentary comes as some are pushing the NFL to change the Redskins team name due to the racial implications of the Native American moniker.
Furthermore, political correctness has transformed the principles for civility and reverence in our day to day interactions. In spite of its clear developments, we consider that political correctness achieves two purposes and having two effects. On a positive note it has helped individuals experience a more ample setting but, the political correctness decree also has the ability to impede individual’s ability to develop effective social interactions with people of different races, genders, religions, and other potentially charged social identity groups.
Written by: Esmeralda Zepeda
Gamble, T. & Gamble, M. (2013). Communication Works (11th ed.) New York: McGraw Hill.
However, there are individuals in society that are troubled by the hurdles that political correctness can generate. For example, think about these scenarios: A white manager fears he will be perceived as racist if he gives critical feedback to his Latino subordinate. A black sales associate passed over for a promotion wonders whether his race has anything to do with it, but he’s reluctant to raise this concern for fear that he may be seen as “playing the race card.” In cultures controlled by political correctness, individuals sense judgment and dread being accused. Individuals for the most part are concerned in what ways they are perceived by others. They feel subdued and petrified to speak up about the most ordinary issues directly. Recently, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, took to Twitter on Tuesday to complain: “In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness. If we speak we say it the wrong way, if we do not speak we are cowards….” The Twitter commentary comes as some are pushing the NFL to change the Redskins team name due to the racial implications of the Native American moniker.
Furthermore, political correctness has transformed the principles for civility and reverence in our day to day interactions. In spite of its clear developments, we consider that political correctness achieves two purposes and having two effects. On a positive note it has helped individuals experience a more ample setting but, the political correctness decree also has the ability to impede individual’s ability to develop effective social interactions with people of different races, genders, religions, and other potentially charged social identity groups.
Written by: Esmeralda Zepeda
Gamble, T. & Gamble, M. (2013). Communication Works (11th ed.) New York: McGraw Hill.