Is society too politically correct? Currently, the trend is escaping trends. 'Be different', 'be yourself', preaches the parents, teachers, politicians and ourselves. Discrimination or prejudice based on religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation et cetera is now a mentality heavily frowned upon. The media urges us to help the poverty-stricken, the starving, the homeless.
Those who discriminate, are prejudiced, or do not help are attacked. Verbally, via social media, because obviously violence is morally incorrect. Those who stand up for others in this way are applauded.
Is this what kindness means? What 'helping' now constitutes?
A society that wants to treat people as equal appears just. People who discourage disrespect appear nice. Yet by doing this, we subconsciously create a victim mentality for the groups of which are being treated unfairly and we define them by that issue or the characteristics attributed to it. Someone wearing a hijab is initially only defined as Muslim. Someone with a physical disability is initially only noted because of it. The intent is reasonable - we do not wish to hurt or offend - but simultaneously we deprive ourselves of the chance to be defined by our entire personality rather than a part of it. In encouraging acceptance of ourselves and others, we pin people to the wall as a display of our own inherent goodness. The media delights in telling us of lack of diversity in businesses and politics, lack of representation along various different cultures. Bang! It triggers widespread anger and resent, a dangerous combination. Authorities are pressured to choose people based on their background or beliefs rather than their abilities.
In a country that loves playing 'freedom of expression', we excel at self-censorship. We know every remark we make is heavily monitored by those around us. Preferring the traditional stereotype of a woman is immediately discounted as being sexist. Treating someone differently can be labelled as xenophobic, or racist, or ageist, depending on whatever boxes are ticked, even if those were not the reason. Stray over the line and you're shot.
Enter the new utopia, with civilian police checking that quality of your verbalisation is in line with political ideologies. The easiest way to masquerade as a hero is accusing someone else of being the villain. With social media, words can now be kept and analyzed with the same desperation of English lessons. We are conditioned to judge. Should I click the like button? Should I add this person as a friend? Or block them? It is very easy to go on social media and find something to be angry about. Some people seem to be professionally angry, and thus social media warriors have fun public shaming. Certain topics cannot be discussed due to various somethingisms, people fear a backlash which can easily become viral. It's a useful method of silencing an opponent, probably often seen in politics. Accuse someone of something, then they have to discount the accusation before resuming their argument.
One may argue that a politically correct society is much better than one which is able to say whatever they wish. It advocates social justice and reduces negative viewpoints and thus hurt. By effectively banning anything that can cause offence we can try to create a happier society. Maybe. On the other hand, humans are so easily hurt, so easily broken and in the end, what then? We are mere bone and dust. Before that, we are a mess, a concatenation of emotions trapped in flesh. Anything could cause offence, talking about food could be construed as implying the other person is fat. While a happier society is beautiful ideal, overuse of political correctness is far more likely to inflict fear and constrain ideas due to the ambiguity of its ideology. Or, more specifically, the extremes to which people like to extend it.
Such extremes undermine the idea of righteousness. Suddenly calling someone out by stating that they are prejudiced or discriminate against a particular group does not necessarily prove we are Right, their comment could be entirely innocent. Alternatively, if the person was offensive, turning the world against them wouldn't be a rational move to take either - pause before firing. Ask ourselves why they said it, because if we did publicly shame them on social media, other people would immediately join your ranks, and public shaming has in the past led to depression or suicidal thoughts on the side of the accused. It could be more kind to reason with them than shoot them on the spot. Well, it would be more like a public flogging on a virtual platform.
One could also suggest that the opposite of politically correct would be supporting all negative ideologies directed towards people. One could decide this speech is a justification for my own prejudices etc. and that I am also an insensitive hypocrite. While that is completely up for debate, it is interesting to note how often the people organizing a public shaming often end saying worse things than their target. This suggests that while people are more guarded with their views, they have not necessarily changed them. On the other hand, it also still means that society is much more supportive of equality and diversity.
To conclude, while the concept of political correctness has a positive intent and ensures that less people commit offensive actions (or words), overuse or extreme interpretations of it can have negative consequences. This still occurs even now, but is largely dependent on the majority view.
by Yii-Jen Deng, Newstead Wood School
