Political Correctness

Abstract

‘Political correctness’ has become a popular term of criticism, from the right, of attempts from the left to control use of language in particular, but also behavior. From the left, political correctness aims to reveal hidden assumptions in supposedly ‘neutral’ ways of speaking and behaving. Political correctness has caused controversy because of its rejection of familiar standards and apparent use of double standards. Two rationales for political correctness include the positive, which appeals to the ideals of democratizing education and everyday life; and the negative, which involves an alleged overthrow of the very idea of hierarchy. The use of language is critical to political correctness and three philosophical theories address this: anti-essentialism, social constructionism, and indeterminacy of meaning. Political correctness has been important in the academy (e.g., in relation to the curriculum) and beyond, in debates about equality, freedom and multiculturalism.