Where Is the Borderline?
Political Correctness (PC) is a term used to describe a phenomenon that had changed and is still changing our world. It entered the public lexicon in the late 1970s, but since the ‘90s when the notion became extremely popular, we all have to be careful about what we say, what we write and even what we think. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, political correctness is an “ideology that espouses showing sensitivity, tolerance and respect for another’s race, gender, sexual preference, nationality, religion, age, physical handicap, or other situation, especially if it differs from one’s own”. So, in theory, political correctness sounds like a very reasonable idea and when we cast a cursory glance at it this remains the case. When it is more thoroughly examined, it may become the reason for having second thoughts about its reasonableness.
Looking back at the history of PC we can see what great influence it had on building a world that we know today and how many lives it has changed. The term “political correctness” was first proposed by Karen Decrow, an American feminist activist in 1983 (Lassan and Luciński, 2008). It originated as an answer to all kinds of intolerance and injustice, especially concerning race, sex and religion. It did undoubtedly improve the situation of African Americans who used to be persecuted and humiliated just because of the color of their skin; women, who were treated differently than men and did not have the same rights as men, just because of their gender. Many other examples could be listed here concerning other groups of people, such as the ‘physically challenged’ or homosexuals. What is important is the fact that since people became aware of political correctness, lives of all the groups of people mentioned above are much easier. It was not a fast process, yet very needed one.
PC is a very delicate subject and it might be assumed that it should be treated with all seriousness. As it turns out, this is not necessarily the case. For
Looking back at the history of PC we can see what great influence it had on building a world that we know today and how many lives it has changed. The term “political correctness” was first proposed by Karen Decrow, an American feminist activist in 1983 (Lassan and Luciński, 2008). It originated as an answer to all kinds of intolerance and injustice, especially concerning race, sex and religion. It did undoubtedly improve the situation of African Americans who used to be persecuted and humiliated just because of the color of their skin; women, who were treated differently than men and did not have the same rights as men, just because of their gender. Many other examples could be listed here concerning other groups of people, such as the ‘physically challenged’ or homosexuals. What is important is the fact that since people became aware of political correctness, lives of all the groups of people mentioned above are much easier. It was not a fast process, yet very needed one.
PC is a very delicate subject and it might be assumed that it should be treated with all seriousness. As it turns out, this is not necessarily the case. For