Political correctness definitely hasn’t gone mad

Those who complain about political correctness are usually very privileged. If your only idea of fun is offensive to multiple people then you clearly have an awful sense of humour. This is the case for Alison Pearson, who’s article reeks of ignorance. The problem is that those who complain about political correctness are usually very privileged.

Political correctness, or as I like to call it “being a decent human being”, is key within universities such as Warwick. Each lecture hall is filled with a vast mix of ethnicities, cultures, languages and beliefs. We’ve finally started to accept that.

In the past fifty years universities in England have shifted from being solely the stomping ground of white, middle class men and (a few) women. Those who did not fit these moulds were silenced and oppressed.

Those who complain about political correctness are usually very privileged

These students who were silenced for so long, now have a voice to channel their anger at oppression and are able to express how they feel.  Universities are finally being held accountable for their actions towards previously unrepresented students.

It’s particularly important because racism is often ingrained within British universities. It’s laughable that Pearson cannot see the obviously insensitive nature of her harmless fun with “young oarsmen dressed as Aborigines” around her on an Australian float.

Universities are finally being held accountable for their actions towards previously unrepresented students

Now whilst she doesn’t quite describe how one dresses as an Aborigine, I’m compelled to think that blackface was involved. At the very least I’m also going to assume the general costume was incredibly inaccurate and caricatured. I think it’s also very safe to guess that it was incredibly racist in its depiction, although she claims it was just “fun”.

She goes on to talk about transgender relations, another topic she has clearly done no research into. If she had, she wouldn’t think a non-binary bathroom is just one communal bathroom.

I think it’s very safe to guess that it was incredibly racist in its depiction

Pearson can’t seem to grasp that they aren’t designed for everyone to pee together in some bizarre urinal orgy. They are single toilets where no one can see how you choose to pee. They’re for people who identify as male or female but don’t have the genitalia to match.

The transgender community is under attack. Violence against trans people increases every year and stigmatized oppression is a way of life. Therefore the simple act of assigning a non-binary toilet is actually incredibly symbolic of support. It’s a display of understanding and acceptance. It’s not a huge gesture but it is an important step.

Assigning a non-binary toilet is actually incredibly symbolic of support

Pearson does vaguely accept that acts of oppression do offend “someone, somewhere”. But she completely misses the mark. It’s not that people ‘might’ get offended, it’s that people do get offended. Students have voiced this. They have asserted that this behaviour is offensive and unacceptable in a progressive and liberal environment like university. They have been heard, as they deserve to be.

Political correctness isn’t someone sitting at a desk quivering at the thought of offending people. It’s people campaigning against stigmatized subjugation. It’s in listening to these people that we can create a more inclusive university environment.

Political correctness isn’t someone sitting at a desk quivering at the thought of offending people

It’s not necessarily perfect, and universities have a long way to go in including all students of all genders, ethnicities, sexualities, cultures and religions. But it’s a far cry from the oppressive state of privilege that embodied British universities up until very recently.