In what decade did the movement of 'political correctness' start, and in what country specifically? Thank you

Question

Was it specifically in the West? e.g. Britain, America or Europe?

Or do other countries now also worry/ fuss over nothing about possibly causing offence to anyone and everything?

When did this all start and why?

Answer 1

It was instituted to correct people's lack of manners. It HAD to be a fabrication of the U.S.. It's where they make everyone pay for a single fools misdeeds!

Answer 2

Although conservatives didn't invent the term (see the website posted on this forum) it is used as a backlash against the tolerance and the advancements that our society has made.  After the civil rights movement it became unacceptable to use terms deemed offensive.  How about the word "*****".  Blacks (or African-Americans; both are accepted) find the term offensive.  The idea of "politically correct" being fascist is a way of trying to say that a society where respecting other people (race, class, ethnicity, sexual-preference) is in some way impeding the freedom of its citizens.  If somebody is being racist or intolerant or using offensive language and I point that out to them than I am being "politically correct".  The advancement of society and the changing of norms is called progress.  Yes you are free to be a jerk, but do you want to be?

Answer 3

Just as the Wall Street attitude of the Eighties was a backlash against the Summer of Love in the Sixties and the Disco Scene in the Seventies, I remember Political Correctness starting up big at the turn of the Nineties.

When they started with the legislation that got perverted into Affirmative Action as we know it today - the original idea was great - it descended upon the culture.

Like many problems, leave it to those Americans to start it.

Today, if you disagree with affirmative action: racist.

If you disagree with amnesty: xenophobe.

If you disagree with censorship: hate speech.

If you disagree with welfare as it stands: bigot.

If you disagree with global warming: oil baron.

If you disagree with pulling the troops now: warmonger.

If you disagree with the Democrats: degenerate.

And so on.

And keep with the down checks, it proves my point.

Answer 4

The movement of politicl correctness started here in America during the 1980's.  

The name says waht it means.  Political correctness means that you can only express what is politically correct and no other type of opinion is allowed.

for exmaple it is politically correct to say that affirmative action and quotas are fair because they give minority (non-white people) an  opportunity to get jobs and get ahead in education by lowering the standards by which they are qualified to enter a university or get a job.  

If a person espouses that opinion then he is considered politically correct.  if on the other hand he says that it is wrong to favor different people based on their ethnic origion and that all people should be treated equally and not just some well then that person is scorned and considered a pariah because he deviates from the politically correct opnion.

Another example is if you are for the war against terrorism then you are a patriot in America if you are against the war in Iraq and against terrorism then you are politically incorrect.  

You are considered to be un-patriotic

It all started in the 1980's in America to force people to conform to one way of Politically correct thinking.

In other words you lose your freedom to think and have a different opnion form the crowd.  You will be forced to repeat all the politically correct thoughts so as to be able to live and function in society without being considered an outcast.

Everyone becomes so senitive that you beocme afraid to express the truth for fear of getting into trouble.

Answer 5

The term is recent, but the concept isn't. Basically it boils down to good manners. Either you have them, or you don't.

Answer 6

Had to be the free love of the sixties. All that  freedom but no responsibility for their actions. If it feels good do it

Answer 7

America in the 1980's.

Answer 8

It possibly started with women's liberation in the 60s and 70s - in the UK and US.  Certainly in the UK, the passing of race discrimination legislation and Equal Opportunities brought about many benefits for minority groups.  For right minded people (like me) this can only be seen as a good thing.  I anticipate your disagreement?

Answer 9

I always assumed it was an American phenomenon. It seemed to really get cranked up during the 80's.

Answer 10

It started in 1912 in the USA and it keeps snowballing until this day. It is founded in fear and the fact the the higher-ups think the little people cant think on their own.

"the American public must be protected because they are not informed of all the matters that are now national security" Bush 05

1912 is when the higher ups decided we needed a global economy. The new world order didnt just all of a sudden happen in the 80s.

AZs post says Im more than likely right about the time of when it started. His post says 1930 but it did start a few years earlier than that ......which is what changed the way America politics helped and hurt us forever.

Answer 11

Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of the term "politically correct:"

http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/sit...