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, isnt 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 elses constitutional rights. Go
here to read more about this event
(http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/25/university-california-santa-barbaraprofessor-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 8).
It is clear that many of 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?

Jensen, Laura. "Political Correctness - Why It Matters." Change Magazine.

Change Magazine Inc., 7 Mar. 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.

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.