Could you explain "political correctness"?

Political correctness involves avoiding language or practices that could offend others. It is often a concerted attempt to redress historical injustices relating to race, gender, class or sexual orientation, for example. You can also say someone or something is "politically correct", or you could just say they are "PC".

Let me give you an example to help you understand. In the past, the native people who lived in parts of Greenland and Canada were referred to as Eskimos. Today, this group is generally called Inuit, a term which literally means "the people" in the local language, as Eskimo is considered to be a derogatory term. You could say Inuit is the "politically correct" or "PC" term for Eskimo.

Sometimes, calling something or someone "politically correct" can be a slur in itself, as some people believe political correctness has gone too far and is at the point where people are overly sensitive to the words and practices of others.

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About the author:

Kim Bowden hails from Auckland, New Zealand, where she recently completed AUT University’s Postgraduate Journalism Diploma.