Political correctness

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"Political correctness" (adjectivally "politically correct"; commonly abbreviated PC) is a term used to describe language,^[1][2][3] policies,^[4] or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society.^[5][6][7] Since the late 1980s, the term has been used to describe a preference for inclusive language and avoidance of language or behavior that can be seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting to groups of people disadvantaged or discriminated against, particularly groups defined by ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. In public discourse and the media,^[4][8][9] the term is generally used as a pejorative with an implication that these policies are excessive or unwarranted.^[10][11]

The phrase politically correct first appeared in the 1930s, when it was used to describe dogmatic adherence to ideology in authoritarian regimes, such as Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.^[5] Early usage of the term politically correct by leftists in the 1970s and 1980s was as self-critical satire;^[8] usage was ironic, rather than a name for a serious political movement.^[12][13][14] It was considered an in-joke among leftists used to satirise those who were too rigid in their adherence to political orthodoxy.^[15] The modern pejorative usage of the term emerged from conservative criticism of the New Left in the late 20th century, with many describing it as a form of censorship.^[16]

Commentators on the political left in the United States contend that conservatives use the concept of political correctness to downplay and divert attention from substantively discriminatory behavior against disadvantaged groups.^[17][18][19] They also argue that the political right enforces its own forms of political correctness to suppress criticism of its favored constituencies and ideologies.^[20][21][22] In the United States, the term has played a major role in the culture war between liberals and conservatives.^[23]