Political Correctness

The term “political correctness” is used to describe language, policies, or

measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular
groups in society. Since the late 1980s, the term has come to refer to avoiding
language or behaviour that can be seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting to
groups of people who are considered disadvantaged or discriminated against, especially
groups defined by sex or race. In public discourse and the media, it is generally used as
a disapproval, implying that these policies are excessive (https://en.wikipedia.org).
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “politically correct” as agreeing with the idea
that people should be careful to not use language or behave in a way that could offend
a particular group of people (Molloy, 2015).
Other dictionaries give similar definitions, but what it basically comes down to is
political correctness means not being a jerk to others. Political correctness is treating
others with respect. Being kind. Being a nice person. Not calling someone a racial slur.
Not making judgments or assumptions based on stereotypes (Molloy, 2015).
Some words that may be used for political correctness are as follows:
(1) academic dishonesty (instead of using the word cheating)
(2) aesthetically challenged (instead of using the word ugly)
(3) black (instead of using the word negro)
(4) comb-free (instead of using the word bald)
(5) differently abled (instead of using the word disabled )
(6) drug dependent (instead of using the word drug addict )
(7) dysfunctional family (instead of using the word broken home)
(8) economically marginalized (instead of using the word poor)
(9) elderly, senior (instead of using the word old)
(10) ethically disoriented (instead of using the word dishonest)
(11) hearing impaired (instead of using the word deaf )
(12) informal settlers (instead of using the word squatters)
(13) intellectual disability, intellectual developmental disorder (instead of using the word
mental retardation)
(14) intellectually impaired (instead of using the word stupid )
(15) little people (instead of using the word midget, dwarf )
(16) morally challenged (instead of using the word crook)
(17) nondiscretionary fragrance (instead of using the word body odor)
(18) outdoor urban dwellers (instead of using the word homeless)
(19) people of mass (instead of using the word fat )
(20) rape survivor (instead of the word rape victim)
(21) sexually dysfunctional (instead of the word perverted )
(22) socially misaligned (instead of the word psychopath)
(23) technologically challenged (instead of computer illiterate)
(24) vertically challenged (instead of short )
(25) visually challenged (instead of blind )