Political correctness aims to prevent offending and degrading certain groups of people, including those with health problems, different genders, ages, races, religions, and sexual orientations. It involves substituting outdated and offensive terms with more acceptable ones. Some view it as necessary, while others feel it is overbearing and counterproductive. Some believe it draws attention to differences, leading to rebellion against politically correct ideas.
Political correctness is a type of movement or practice that aims to change language, policies and behavior in such a way as to prevent the offending, discrimination and degradation of certain groups of people. These groups include genders, ages and races, those with mental and physical health issues, as well as those of different religious beliefs and sexual orientations. Sometimes, people view politically correct policies as necessary safeguards, such as when they prevent the use of hate speech. Other times, people feel that the politically correct methods are overbearing and counterproductive.
Ideally, political correctness protects certain groups or demographics of individuals from being insulted, slighted, or degraded. Usually, alterations to language, behavior and policies that were once acceptable work to provide this protection. Such groups include those with health problems such as mental illness or physical disabilities. Furthermore, political correctness is intended to protect a person from such offense or degradation based on their age, gender, and race. It is also common to use politically correct language or policies to prevent offending or insulting people based on their sexual orientation, religion, and even occupation.
Therefore, words and phrases considered politically correct fall into certain categories, although many are substitute words and phrases for outdated and seemingly offensive terms. For example, some political correctness focuses on health and medical terms, substituting words and phrases like “retarded” for “mentally disabled,” “handicapped,” or “disabled.” Many people and even manufacturers now refer to “Christmas trees” and “Christmas cards” as “holiday trees” and “holiday cards,” so as not to offend or isolate people who have religious beliefs that don’t include Jesus Christ or Christmas.
Other types of political correctness are used in the implementation of workforce language and policies that focus on preventing discrimination or crime based on birth factors such as gender, age, and race. For example, a “stewardess” is now a “flight attendant” and a “firefighter” is now a “fireman”. Races are labeled differently, with “Blacks” and “Whites” now being “African American” and “Caucasian.” A large part of the ideology of political correctness is intended to protect people from certain language that is not only offensive, but can also generate hatred and violence towards a certain group of people. This type of language is often called hate speech and includes outdated words and slurs.
Hate speech aside, some believe the political correctness movement has gone too far. There are people who feel that instead of protecting people from harm and discrimination, political correctness is actually drawing attention to their differences. Such thinking has led some individuals to turn away or rebel against politically correct words or ideas and instead favor “politically incorrect” methods that allow them to express themselves better.
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