posted
I just wanted to make a brief post about this because it's come up more than once at this community before.
It's always a bit odd for me, a woman turning 36, child of an activist, child of immigrant families, who grew up urban, often a racial minority in my neighborhoods (despite being a freckled, redheaded caucasian), who grew up queer, female, feminist, with a disability, to even address the whole notion of "political correctness" at all.
Why? Because it came along long after I was reared to speak compassionately, to not abuse anyone with language, to be inclusive not because of feeling like a jerk if I didn't, or for fear of being scolded, but because most of the time if myself or members of my family weren't that elusive "other," that "them," our friends or neighbors were. I remember well when that term came up (in the 80's -- the original Marxist use is, in effect, what the current term makes a parody and paranoia of) and when -- and in what context -- it started being used. (A google search on the term's history would likely prove a pretty big surprise for a lot of young people who consider themselves liberal or progressive who use the term.)
Something struck me today about someone bothered by what appears to them to be a "PC" approach, and that is this:
It seems to me that irritation with elective compassionate, inclusive language and approaches assumes/presumes the one speaking is NOT the "other" or the "them." That, for instance, if we're talking about treating gays and lesbians fairly, using language that isn't insulting, bigoted, misrepresentational or abusive, we must not BE gay or lesbian, rather than presuming -- as is more often the case in diverse environments -- that those of us speaking often ARE, or have close ties with others who are. The same goes for race, for body shape and size, for nationality, for sex and gender, the works.
I don't care for the term "PC," for a lot of reasons. For starters, it was coined and popularized by a political faction irritated with fairness and diversity in education, NOT by progressives or hipsters or hippies, what have you. I could go on and on about the handful of other reasons why that term bugs me, but the biggest one is this, and I'm not sure people even realize it when they start to rag on about people being "PC":
Using that term as a chide, using it to mock fairness and inclusivity in word and in action, is, IMO, actually -- intentional or not -- not only a very potent way to suggest that fairness and inclusivity ARE a mockery, but also a really fine way to further invisibility for all/any of us who are a class minority in our sex, our gender, our race, our nationality, our shape, size or wellness, our sexual orientation or relationships, the structure of our family, you name it.
In other words, Orwellian-syle thought police invading language sure isn't what we do or aim for here. Personally, I'm of the mind that more times than not, people changing their speech to be less biased because they are forced to, not because they have actually examined their biases, or because they want to take part in a community which IS inclusive and attempts to be respectful of everyone in it, is of no use to anyone.
But when it IS elective, and when others elect to do so -- often just in their OWN self-representation -- and it's mocked or called "PC," that mockery says clearly that no one WOULD choose to be compassionate and inclusive. It also, in presuming that, assumes that none of us are the "them," which need and want inclusion. In a word, it really helps bias thrive, and really helps keep those of us, and those we love, who are "other" exactly that.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hmm. .I'm not sure I understand, but I did a search on political correctness, and from what I can tell it seems like it was designed as another form of censorship and to distract people from really solving discrimination involving race, gender, etc. . like, instead of trying to actively educate people on equality they're just like, "Oh, here's the list of words and phrases/situations and such you're not allowed to say/do anymore." and hope that makes it all better. Am I right. . or at least close? Posts: 159 | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, the TERM was put into popular use to SUGGEST that adding things like gender, african-american or chicano studies in colleges was. But the people who popularized that term had pretty much zero interest in solving discrimination themselves. Mostly, they resented having to be inclusive.
And it was FRAMED to look as if doing those things was that sort of language policing.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm not really up on the etymology of the term, but in my experience, the term "PC" is generally used to lump people who care about making a positive difference by using inclusive language etc in with the odd person who wants to go to extremes-- thus suggesting that the vast majority of people who want to use inclusive language are extremists.
As such, it's a term used to ridicule honest efforts to be basically decent, non-racist, non-sexist people, and to have that reflected in language.
Posts: 2710 | From: Australia | Registered: Jun 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
My memories of "politically correct" go back to the 1960's when the Stalinist wing of the Canadian Communist Party had self described "feminists" visit various University of Toronto professors to inform them that their lectures were "politically incorrect". The adventures of these female "thought police" came to naught but the term "politically incorrect" caught on.
-------------------- I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
posted
This is just my observation. It seems to me that anyone I've seen irritated at fair use of language tend to think that the stereotypes these people try to avoid incorporating into their language are actually intrinsic glaring flaws in entire populations that the "PC" people are being intentionally oblivious to.
Thus the image of the blind idealistic politically correct ninny.
On the other hand I have spoken to people who seem a bit more well intentioned who claim to be annoyed by this for fear of making an unintentional linguistic misstep and perhaps offending someone and/or being attacked from all sides by squawking politically correct buzzards.
Fairness needs an image makeover...seriously.
-------------------- I AM WOMAN...THE REMIX!!!
You catch more flies with manure than you do with honey. Posts: 110 | From: Worcester MA | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:On the other hand I have spoken to people who seem a bit more well intentioned who claim to be annoyed by this for fear of making an unintentional linguistic misstep and perhaps offending someone and/or being attacked from all sides by squawking politically correct buzzards.
Well, one would hope context had some effect on this. For instance, in the company of friends, in one's home, etc. this would be a pretty unrealistic fear.
But I'm willing to gether that those WITH that fear are coming from a place of privlege. In other words, people without privilege have ALWAYS had fear of lingustic missteps. One is left to wonder if that fear is so pervasive because for some of these folks, they aren't in the position of having to actually be concerned with how they address someone or a group as something new, rather than a constant which was always present.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
I remember that a few years ago, I heard a talk given by this absolutely odious man who used his disgust with "political correctness" to make lovely jokes like "Why do brides wear white? Because all the best kitchen appliances are white!" (*spew*), using the term "politically correct" to suggest that there is something wrong with differentiating between women and objects.
Posts: 2710 | From: Australia | Registered: Jun 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
As for natives versus Indians, Indian's is more correct.
India was called India in 1492, it's name changed from (Hindukstan?) a few months after Christopher Columbus left.
The reason they are called Indians is because Christopher Columbus, in his broken latin, called the land "A land of god." He called the Indians "A people in God". In God in latin is "In Dios". In Dios turned into Indians over time.
Furthermore, how many Indian's were killed because of Christopher Columbus' conquest and arrival to America, directly or indirectly?
We killed them, subjugated them, and stole their ancestral lands. And lastly, we plaster them with our own name, in the name of being polite and friendly.
All words are equally correct. It is the way that the words are said and intended to be taken. Take offense only when offense is intended, that is my motto.
-------------------- 19, male, interested in Sadomasochism (BDSM) and some bisexual tendancies. Posts: 157 | From: Canada | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
quote:Take offense only when offense is intended, that is my motto
Have you never been offended by someone who didn't mean it? Does it make your feelings hurt any less because you took it the wrong way?
I think that takes too much responsibility off of the speaker and ... I just don't know how you can try to tell people how to feel like that.
If that where the case, why should anybody bother to 'think before they speak'? As long as your intentions are good, who cares?
Posts: 7168 | From: Ontario | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
quote:We killed them, subjugated them, and stole their ancestral lands. And lastly, we plaster them with our own name, in the name of being polite and friendly.
And there's that "we" again! I sure know my native friends aren't that "we." I know my own family wasn't even IN this country then, so I'm not that we. Not a niggle, just a reminder again that a lot of these sorts of objections come from the presumption that everyone is the "us," rather than the "them."
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
2 year old topics for the win! Sorry for bumping, but I have no-one else to discuss this with right now.
I told a friend of mine to stop with the racism today..(Among other things, he was complaining about there being too many foreigners out partying. Most of those foreigners are citizens of this country. Many of their families would have been here longer than his). He told me there's nothing wrong with making harsh generalisations about populations that he is not part of, on a statistical basis, and that I'm being too *PC*. I don't object to discussing real issues, but I do object to snide comments in an attempt to be funny.
I realise this is more a forum for sexual ethics than general ones, can anyone point me to any books on racism? Or forums/articles? Thanks heaps.
Posts: 79 | From: the southern hemisphere | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
What are you looking for when it comes to books, articles or forums? Something for you, or for this friend?
And do you want something very basic, or more advanced? Something addressing a specific group?
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
Copyright 1998, 2013 Heather Corinna/Scarleteen
Scarleteen.com: Providing comprehensive sex education online to teens and young adults worldwide since 1998
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes. It is not meant to and cannot substitute for advice or care provided by an in-person medical professional. The information contained herein is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. You should always consult your own healthcare provider if you have a health problem or medical condition.
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic