Political correctness

Political correctness (also politically correct, or "PC") is a term used in English-speaking countries to describe real or perceived attempts to impose limits on the acceptable language and terms used in public discussion. While it usually refers to a linguistic phenomenon, it is sometimes extended to cover political ideology or public behavior.

Related Topics:
English-speaking countries - Ideology

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In the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, the term may often have a pejorative or ironic meaning —typically connoting an excessive attempt by social liberals to alter language and culture. Usage of the term varies from region to region, for example, in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary (Oxford University Press Canada 2001) defines political correctness as "the avoidance of forms of expression or action that exclude, marginalize, or insult certain racial or cultural groups."

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According to predominantly right-wing critics of what they call the "political correctness movement," the term refers to a larger social movement evolving out of the Civil Rights movement —commonly associated with social changes in United States that peaked in the 1950s and 1960s. These critics argue that PC involves censorship and social engineering); and has influenced popular culture, such as music, film, literature, arts and advertising.

Related Topics:
Social movement - Civil Rights movement - United States - 1950s - 1960s - Censorship - Social engineering - Popular culture - Music - Film - Literature - Arts - Advertising

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Most progressive scholars, however, argue that the term "political correctness" was hijacked by conservatives around 1980 and redefined as a way to reframe the debates over diversity and unequal distribution of power and privilege in the United States. They say that there never was a "Political Correctness movement" in the United States; and that many who use the term are attempting to distract attention from substantial debates over discrimination and unequal treatment based on race, class, and gender (Messer-Davidow 1993, 1994; Schultz 1993; Lauter 1995; Scatamburlo 1998).

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