koopkooper
Practically Family
- Messages
- 610
- Location
- Sydney Australia
THE term "political correctness", or PC, entered our education and social systems about the same time as second wave feminism the 1960s.
It was designed to encourage us to watch what we said in case we insulted, hurt, stereotyped or were in any way prejudiced towards a particular sex, ethnic, cultural or age group.
It came into being for a worthy reason, prompting us - as our parents used to say - to "think before we speak".
PC also drew attention to the power of words. Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can be weapons of mass destruction and instruction. The wounds they leave sometimes never heal.
With this awareness, PC has, over time, become ingrained in the cultural conscience, the very fabric of our society, but not always in a good way.
Today there were disturbing reports in the media in Australia that childcare workers are taught not to say "no" to children in their care, and discouraged from praising them by using their sex ("good boy", "good girl"); that isn't political correctness gone mad - that's sheer stupidity. Whoever wrote those idiotic guidelines not only needs to go back to school but could do with a lesson in anatomy and physiology as well.
To label saying "good girl" or "good boy" as sexist shows a remarkable ignorance about the fundamental physical differences between the sexes. Furthermore, to suggest that using a child's sex is discriminatory also reveals a complete lack of comprehension about what discrimination means.
While on the one hand it means to distinguish (and yes, boy and girl do that) it also means on the basis of prejudice or irrationality - not to treat people equally or with equity.
Perhaps childcare workers shouldn't say "good" either, as that's discriminating, implying all the other children are bad.
And while we're at it, why is "no" wrong, but "yes" right? No more yes, I say.
It's all the same crazy logic - or perhaps that was thrown out with the bathwater.
Instead, childcare workers are told to say "congratulations" or "good work", as if the children have just married, turned 21, been promoted or closed a deal.
And how about this....a hand-washing policy, making children not only clean their hands every time they see dirt but leave the water running while they grab a paper handtowel to turn the tap off takes the notion of squeaky-clean, wasting water, paranoia and fear to whole new levels: worrying about sexism, germs, difference, prejudice and anti-discrimination classes - all before they're out of nappies. Some would say it's the perfect breeding ground for a Howard Hughes type of germophobe!
"Oh brave new world that has such people in it!" Not in the Shakespearean sense, in the lovely ironic way Aldous Huxley meant.
This isn't political correctness, so don't blame that.
This is power abused, misused and misunderstood; there's nothing political or correct about it.
From blondes to babies, let's not lose our sense of fun or what constitutes appropriate words and actions; let's not lose our common sense.
As Kahil Gibran wrote: "Wisdom is not in words; Wisdom is meaning within words."
It was designed to encourage us to watch what we said in case we insulted, hurt, stereotyped or were in any way prejudiced towards a particular sex, ethnic, cultural or age group.
It came into being for a worthy reason, prompting us - as our parents used to say - to "think before we speak".
PC also drew attention to the power of words. Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can be weapons of mass destruction and instruction. The wounds they leave sometimes never heal.
With this awareness, PC has, over time, become ingrained in the cultural conscience, the very fabric of our society, but not always in a good way.
Today there were disturbing reports in the media in Australia that childcare workers are taught not to say "no" to children in their care, and discouraged from praising them by using their sex ("good boy", "good girl"); that isn't political correctness gone mad - that's sheer stupidity. Whoever wrote those idiotic guidelines not only needs to go back to school but could do with a lesson in anatomy and physiology as well.
To label saying "good girl" or "good boy" as sexist shows a remarkable ignorance about the fundamental physical differences between the sexes. Furthermore, to suggest that using a child's sex is discriminatory also reveals a complete lack of comprehension about what discrimination means.
While on the one hand it means to distinguish (and yes, boy and girl do that) it also means on the basis of prejudice or irrationality - not to treat people equally or with equity.
Perhaps childcare workers shouldn't say "good" either, as that's discriminating, implying all the other children are bad.
And while we're at it, why is "no" wrong, but "yes" right? No more yes, I say.
It's all the same crazy logic - or perhaps that was thrown out with the bathwater.
Instead, childcare workers are told to say "congratulations" or "good work", as if the children have just married, turned 21, been promoted or closed a deal.
And how about this....a hand-washing policy, making children not only clean their hands every time they see dirt but leave the water running while they grab a paper handtowel to turn the tap off takes the notion of squeaky-clean, wasting water, paranoia and fear to whole new levels: worrying about sexism, germs, difference, prejudice and anti-discrimination classes - all before they're out of nappies. Some would say it's the perfect breeding ground for a Howard Hughes type of germophobe!
"Oh brave new world that has such people in it!" Not in the Shakespearean sense, in the lovely ironic way Aldous Huxley meant.
This isn't political correctness, so don't blame that.
This is power abused, misused and misunderstood; there's nothing political or correct about it.
From blondes to babies, let's not lose our sense of fun or what constitutes appropriate words and actions; let's not lose our common sense.
As Kahil Gibran wrote: "Wisdom is not in words; Wisdom is meaning within words."
