I got to a college that is known for being WAY too politically correct. Like, we had a school-wide debate over whether you can call something/someone crazy (ie. "You're skinny dipping in the duck pond? It's 41 degrees outside - that's crazy!") due to the term being ableist (adj. discrimination against disabled). THAT is the kind of lifestyle I am having to adapt to right now. And I'll say this much: it's not hard. It really isn't difficult to stop saying "That's so gay." or similar, derogatory terms. But let's briefly discuss political correctness.
Recently, Patricia Arquette gave a badass speech at the Oscars about gender equality, and continue her sentiment backstage. While most people agreed that her on-stage speech was brilliant, a lot of people jumped down her throat for her comments backstage:
“And it's time for all the women in America and all the men that love women, and all the gay people, and all the people of color that we've all fought for to fight for us now.”
Now, I have been passionate for equality of all kinds since I can remember. I've done my research. I could rip any argument against gay marriage, abortion, or the death penalty into pieces. I have sonar-hearing that can pick up "I'm not racist but"s a mile away, and I will call out ANYONE who uses the word "feminazi".
What Arquette said is not a perfectly-worded and elegant statement that feminists can hail for all eternity. But hello - perfection and scrutiny are the things we are trying to FIGHT. Feminism, for as long as I've been around, has been about taking women out of this constant, judgmental light that they are under. Feminism is about freedom, dammit, and sue me, but by completely tearing this woman to pieces over one ambiguous comment seems to me like your stifling people.
Here's the thing about political correctness: it is turning a lot of people off to very important causes. It feels like nowadays, people will get offended at just about anything. A lot of these things are problematic. A lot of them are dumb comments that got taken out of context or weren't worded just right. And the more we alienate the people who accidentally slip up just a bit, the more people feel secure in calling us "feminazis" and whether or not we take those people seriously, others definitely will.
I understand that I don't have the right to tell other races or people of other sexualities etc. that they have no right to be offended. But we have to pick and choose our battles carefully, and I think going after Patricia Arquette, or Benedict Cumberbatch, or George Takai, etc. are stupid battles to fight. I think we should be battling forces who are truly trying to keep women/people of color/the LGBTQ community marginalized.
So please, for the love of God, can we stop shaming Patricia Arquette?
Here's the thing about political correctness: it is turning a lot of people off to very important causes. It feels like nowadays, people will get offended at just about anything. A lot of these things are problematic. A lot of them are dumb comments that got taken out of context or weren't worded just right. And the more we alienate the people who accidentally slip up just a bit, the more people feel secure in calling us "feminazis" and whether or not we take those people seriously, others definitely will.
I understand that I don't have the right to tell other races or people of other sexualities etc. that they have no right to be offended. But we have to pick and choose our battles carefully, and I think going after Patricia Arquette, or Benedict Cumberbatch, or George Takai, etc. are stupid battles to fight. I think we should be battling forces who are truly trying to keep women/people of color/the LGBTQ community marginalized.
So please, for the love of God, can we stop shaming Patricia Arquette?
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