Moving Beyond Political Correctness to Kindness

I hear the term “politically correct” on a regular basis. Usually I hear it when someone is trying to describe individuals from a particular social identity group (individuals of a particular religion, individuals with a particular skin color, etc.). Until recently, I hadn’t given much thought to the term.

However, I’ve thought about it recently because I feel like I’m hearing the term more often. Perhaps this is because our nation is becoming more and more divided over key political issues or perhaps it is because it is becoming deeply entrenched in our vernacular. Regardless of the reason, I’ve realized that I have some issues with the concept of political correctness.

What is political correctness?

Political correctness is defined as “avoiding language or behavior that any particular group of people might feel is unkind or offensive” (source). What does this look like in everyday life? Here are some examples:

• Using the term “firefighter” instead of “fireman.”
• Identifying so-called American Indians by their nations (Cherokee, Seminole, Navajo, Hopi, etc.) or using the term Indigenous Peoples.
• Avoiding offensive Halloween costumes (holocaust survivor, mental hospital patient, terrorist, etc.).

Is political correctness a problem?

The way I see it, political correctness can get out of hand. It’s not possible for us to avoid offending every single person. What’s offensive is subjective, so literally anything could be offensive to someone. However, there are many situations in which it is easy for us to be politically correct, thereby not offending others. Despite this, I find that many people use the term “politically correct” as a pejorative. As I understand it, these individuals feel inconvenienced by it. It was after realizing this that I began to note my issues with political correctness. Here they are:

• Often “politically correct” is simply correct. Many times we refer to something as being politically correct when it is actually just correct. For example, consider the terms used to describe “American Indians.” Using the term “Indian” is inaccurate. As you likely know, this term originated with Columbus. He believed (mistakenly) that he had reached the shores of South Asia, so he promoted the term Indios (“person from the Indus valley”) to refer to the individuals living in the so-called New World (source). This isn’t, nor has it ever been, South Asia. Therefore, it is accurate (not politically correct, but truly correct) to avoid the use of “Indian” when describing a Yavapai, Oglala Lakota, Cherokee, or other Indigenous Person.
• Political correctness is superficial. Being politically correct influences words and actions, but not hearts. You may appear respectful if you use the word “firefighter” instead of “fireman,” but it doesn’t mean you aren’t a misogynist who believes women are inferior and should spend their lives barefoot and pregnant while cooking and cleaning for their husbands.
• Political correctness can be a barrier to developing constructive and engaged relationships. People often let important issues go unaddressed because they fear how they will be perceived if they bring up the issues. For example, a black volunteer at a charity may keep quiet when she observes attitudes or policies that are racist because she fears she’ll be accused of “playing the race card” if she brings them up. Likewise, a white resident may be frustrated because of his neighbor’s loud parties, but he may feel like he can’t ask the neighbor to turn down the volume because the neighbor, who is Latino, may assume that he is being targeted because of his ethnicity. In both of these situations, concerns about remaining politically correct have become a barrier to forming constructive relationships.

An alternative

I’ve decided that I don’t want people to think of me as being politically correct. This descriptor seems appropriate for describing a situation where someone uses a term or instills a policy for the sake of appearances (for example, if a white political candidate is careful to hire a diverse team for his campaign because—whether he personally values diversity or not—he knows it is the “right” thing to do). However, I just want to be kind and loving.

I’m a Christian, so I can only look at this from the perspective of someone who tries to live as the Bible dictates I should. The Bible says we should have two priorities: loving God and loving other people (Matthew 22:36-40). When the Bible talks about loving others, there are lots of verses that support actions we might deem to be politically correct. Consider these examples:

“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 (NET)

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.” Philippians 2:3-4 (NET)

“Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.” 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NET)

Being a Christian isn’t about doing what is convenient for me. According to these verses, it is about using words that build others up, being humble, being concerned with the interests of others, and seeking the good of others. This means that a number of politically correct things are the right things for me to do.

As I noted earlier, political correctness can be a barrier to developing constructive and engaged relationships. I think if Christians lived according to the verses listed above that people would be less likely to be suspicious of our motives because they would know us to be kind, humble people. I think we also need to be careful not to jump to conclusions about others. If someone brings up an issue, we need to give them the benefit of the doubt, believing that their concerns are genuine. I think these two things would go a long way in helping us develop quality relationships with others.

Final thoughts

It’s naive to think that I can live in such a way that I never offend anyone. There are two reasons for this. First, there will always be people who are offended by something. This is because what is offensive is subjective. Second, I hold strong opinions on a number of topics, and I won’t compromise on these. It is possible that simply stating my opinion on one of these will offend someone else (because, as noted, anyone can be offended by anything). This will not change my mind; however, it is my goal to always be respectful and kind when I communicate my opinions.

What are your thoughts on political correctness? Is it a good thing? Do you consider yourself to be a politically correct person? Why or why not?

Shared at the following:

Encouraging Hearts and Home, Over the Moon, and Busy Monday.