The Irony of Political Correctness
Political correctness is a result of mental evolution and understanding. As we increase our understanding of the human condition and become more exposed to people from different backgrounds we undergo an evolution in thought that fundamentally changes the way we approach people who are unlike us.
Have you ever noticed that the biggest complaints about political correctness usually surrounds a statement that was previously accepted by many people until a group began to find a voice to speak out against such language? I don’t think I have ever heard anyone complain about political correctness when it comes to a statement that is centered around love and acceptance.
People who are critical of political correctness are essentially asking for others to be politically correct towards them by not voicing their displeasure at a particular statement that can be considered inflammatory. At one point in time it was politically correct to NOT respond when certain derogatory language was used. In 2015, when you make such comments and are held responsible for your words, what you feel is not the frustration of having to be politically correct, but a shame that the world is passing you by and that today you have that much less privilege to say what you want without being held accountable.
The irony of political correctness is based on a presumption that simply being first to set parameters by which all shall live is sufficient for the preservation of such parameters, and that those who may evolve out of that society have no right to express displeasure or define themselves without giving in to the original construct of society. As we become more self-aware and nuanced as a human race, we advance past the simplistic containers we’ve existed within and strive to make our voices heard, not necessarily for the betterment of humanity, but the no-less-important need for self-definition.
This leads to an oversimplification of the human experience which grows more and more complex with every passing generation. By keeping to those anachronistic containers we placate those who have not made their own advancements in the journey for self-awareness. Not that they are incapable of it, but rather they simply fall within one of many levels of privilege and have not yet had to consider their actions in relation to the very real feelings to those in starkly different sections of the population.
At the core of the matter of political correctness and freedom of speech is empathy. Empathy, by definition is the “ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” It takes greater amounts of empathy to understand people you have less in common with. In order to fully experience empathy it requires one to understand someone based on where they are coming from. It requires that you push all biases and presumptions aside and truly attempt to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. It’s not an easy thing to do and becoming empathetic is built upon the foundation of exposing yourself to people of different backgrounds and accepting them for who they are - as individuals with their very own worldview that is separate and sometimes counter to yours.
As you become more exposed to people from different backgrounds while attempting to understand their experience and point of view, you will begin to build a much more expansive view of your own world and your place within it. This can be a very troubling experience when you have gained insight into your place in the world. Depending on your background and experience while growing up you may find that the very world you were living in is not the true world that exists, at least not for a significant group of people within the society.
It is no surprise that major cities tend to be the root of movements to define political correctness. In these cities there tends to be a greater population of people from many different backgrounds which allows for greater diversity. Also of no surprise is that younger generations in these areas tend to be at the forefront of these movements as their exposure to this diversity during formative years bears fruit in the form of being more vocal against traditional roles. Conversely, those who most vocally oppose political correctness often come from more homogenous communities.
Naturally there will also be some form of extremism within this group as some may get too far ahead of themselves by attempting to tear down other labels. These extremist acts are often used by those who oppose this advancement as a way to discredit the entire movement. The fact is, every major movement of social change has had their extremists, and their opposition have never missed an opportunity to use those extreme examples as a means to rally their own group towards being more vocal in their resistance.
Ultimately the conversation over political correctness and free speech will continue as long as there exists segments of the population that are constantly redefining themselves. We may very well never see an end to the debate, and that can be a good thing for us, as we continue to assert our individuality.
