Hello, if you are reading this then I am assuming I have somewhat managed to interest you with my line of inquiry, but without any further commentary, I will proceed to do what I do best, discuss my opinions. Political correctness is an issue that has exploded within mainstream media in recent years, and it is a concept that must be taken into careful consideration. This is not an issue where an individual can take a truly neutral stance, but one that generates argumentative debates from both sides of the spectrum. Within the research that I have already conducted, I have discovered two very strong viewpoints on this issue. While one side believes that political correctness is attempting to destroy the idea of free expression, the other believes it is progressing society to a point at which we can further develop this right in a more civil manner. After being presented with some of the views from both sides of the debate, I encourage you, as the reader, to consider what your stance on political correctness would be.
Is the practice of being politically correct ultimately hurting people, or has this practice actually helped people within our society? According to Robin J. Ely, Debra Meyerson, and Martin N. Davidson, the authors of Rethinking Political Correctness, this ideology has contributed to creating schisms amongst diverse groups of people. While political correctness was created to progress society, it has actually complicated this process by inhibiting the formation of healthy relationships. When people become afraid of being blamed for being politically incorrect, they will typically avoid even the most minor issues entirely (Ely par. 1&3). If this is true, it is important to understand the negative repercussions that follow these effects. Unfortunately this could result in further isolation of different groups within our society, which could lead to bitterness and mistrust between one another. However, many people believe that political correctness creates far more help than hurt. Laura Jensen, a college student and writer for Change Magazine, believes that political correctness is all about respect for your fellow man. When we monitor what we say, we are ultimately protecting others’ right to be themselves and providing a feeling of security within any environment that a person chooses to be in (Jensen par. 6). This is an idea to keep in mind; after all, isn’t human decency one of the most important characteristics a society should possess?
Could political correctness potentially limit the right to freedom of expression, or is it a possibility that this ideology is actually helping to further develop this right? It has come to my attention that there have been multiple instances where people have used political correctness to dismiss views that oppose their own. Jonathan Chait, a writer for New York News and Politics, provided insight on one of these situations. He discussed an event that occurred on campus at University of California Santa Barbara where two women were expressing their opposition to abortion. During this display, a professor from the school confiscated the signs being used by the women because she claimed it was creating a harmful environment for her and her students. The media exploded with support for the professor, although she clearly violated someone else’s constitutional rights. Go here to read more about this event (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/25/university-california-santa-barbara-professor-pleads-no-contest-to-assault-on/). It seems that political correctness has created an oversensitive society that will overlook First Amendment rights to protect themselves from unwanted opinions. However, Laura Jensen has another opinion on this issue entirely. According to her, political correctness is a way to explore the nature of language, and through doing so we can discover new ways to express ourselves while being respectful to the beliefs of others’ (Jensen par. 8).
It is clear that the questions I have presented are not ones with simple answers. Honestly, many of the answers to these questions could be based solely on personal opinions. It seems that both sides of this debate have presented strong views that come down to one thought; is your right to be who you are and express yourself freely just as important as the persons’ next to you to feel safe? Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I hope that the ideas I have presented were as interesting to you as they were to me. Please continue to read my blog as I write more posts about this specific line of inquiry, and I promise I will attempt to make those posts as readable and as intriguing as possible.
Vote on the poll below!
Is the practice of being politically correct ultimately hurting people, or has this practice actually helped people within our society? According to Robin J. Ely, Debra Meyerson, and Martin N. Davidson, the authors of Rethinking Political Correctness, this ideology has contributed to creating schisms amongst diverse groups of people. While political correctness was created to progress society, it has actually complicated this process by inhibiting the formation of healthy relationships. When people become afraid of being blamed for being politically incorrect, they will typically avoid even the most minor issues entirely (Ely par. 1&3). If this is true, it is important to understand the negative repercussions that follow these effects. Unfortunately this could result in further isolation of different groups within our society, which could lead to bitterness and mistrust between one another. However, many people believe that political correctness creates far more help than hurt. Laura Jensen, a college student and writer for Change Magazine, believes that political correctness is all about respect for your fellow man. When we monitor what we say, we are ultimately protecting others’ right to be themselves and providing a feeling of security within any environment that a person chooses to be in (Jensen par. 6). This is an idea to keep in mind; after all, isn’t human decency one of the most important characteristics a society should possess?
Could political correctness potentially limit the right to freedom of expression, or is it a possibility that this ideology is actually helping to further develop this right? It has come to my attention that there have been multiple instances where people have used political correctness to dismiss views that oppose their own. Jonathan Chait, a writer for New York News and Politics, provided insight on one of these situations. He discussed an event that occurred on campus at University of California Santa Barbara where two women were expressing their opposition to abortion. During this display, a professor from the school confiscated the signs being used by the women because she claimed it was creating a harmful environment for her and her students. The media exploded with support for the professor, although she clearly violated someone else’s constitutional rights. Go here to read more about this event (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/25/university-california-santa-barbara-professor-pleads-no-contest-to-assault-on/). It seems that political correctness has created an oversensitive society that will overlook First Amendment rights to protect themselves from unwanted opinions. However, Laura Jensen has another opinion on this issue entirely. According to her, political correctness is a way to explore the nature of language, and through doing so we can discover new ways to express ourselves while being respectful to the beliefs of others’ (Jensen par. 8).
It is clear that the questions I have presented are not ones with simple answers. Honestly, many of the answers to these questions could be based solely on personal opinions. It seems that both sides of this debate have presented strong views that come down to one thought; is your right to be who you are and express yourself freely just as important as the persons’ next to you to feel safe? Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and I hope that the ideas I have presented were as interesting to you as they were to me. Please continue to read my blog as I write more posts about this specific line of inquiry, and I promise I will attempt to make those posts as readable and as intriguing as possible.
Vote on the poll below!
Citations
Chait, Jonathan. "Not a Very P.C. Thing to Say." New York News and Politics.
New York Media LLC, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Ely, Robin J., Debra Meyerson, and Martin N. Davidson. "Rethinking
Political Correctness." Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business
School Publishing, Sept. 2006. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Equality. Digital image. Peace Mala. Arcania, 2002. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Hvarings. Silencing speech. Digital image. Human Rights House Network.
HRHN, 19 July 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Jensen, Laura. "Political Correctness - Why It Matters." Change Magazine.
Change Magazine Inc., 7 Mar. 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
New York Media LLC, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Ely, Robin J., Debra Meyerson, and Martin N. Davidson. "Rethinking
Political Correctness." Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business
School Publishing, Sept. 2006. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Equality. Digital image. Peace Mala. Arcania, 2002. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Hvarings. Silencing speech. Digital image. Human Rights House Network.
HRHN, 19 July 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Jensen, Laura. "Political Correctness - Why It Matters." Change Magazine.
Change Magazine Inc., 7 Mar. 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.