- The authors of the article insist there are significant differences between political correctness of the 80’s and 90’s to the political correctness that exists today. According to the authors the reason for the usage of political correctness from decades past was “to restrict speech, specifically hate speech aimed at marginalized groups.” This was beneficial to challenge the historical rules of behavior and speech, ultimately looking to include a more diverse point of view. “The current movement is largely about emotional well-being.” The authors claim that this movement has the main objective “of protecting students from physiological harm”, and ultimately creating a culture where people never have to be confronted with words or topics that may discomfort them. This new form of political correctness “prepares students poorly for professional life”, and also can lead to similar thinking patterns as people with anxiety and depression. I believe that campuses should not become “safe spaces”, and that students should be confronted with ideas and words that make them uncomfortable. Although obviously any sort of hate speech or belittlement should not be tolerated, I think that people should be free to express thoughts with the words they wish to use. As the article suggests this can create a “culture in which everyone must think twice before speaking up, lest they face charges of insensitivity, aggression, or worse.”
- After reports of crimes, and child abductions grew drastically between the 60s and the 90s, the Baby Boomer generation of parents became more protective than the generation before. Rates of mental illness in young adults has been rising, coincidentally with the rise of social media. Universities have used emotional reasoning as evidence, and to prosecute other students. Also classes are becoming harder to teach, as professors have to tip toe around the new social laws. I have seen many of the examples given in the article myself. One of the biggest statements I can connect to was “The surge in crime… made Baby Boomer parents more protective than their own parents had been… The Millennials got a consistent message from adults: life is dangerous.” I completely agree with this statement. Many of my friends’ parents track their locations at all time and require my friends to tell them their constant whereabouts, and where they’re going to be. If my friend tells his mom he’s sleeping over my house she would likely check his phone location to determine if he’s lying, or even going as far as not letting their 18 year old child sleepover someone else’s house at all.
- It seems the oversensitive people might be similar to Dweck’s idea of students with a “fixed mindset.” Dweck claims people with fixed mindsets when they encounter an error they “run from the error. They don’t engage with it.” This is similar to collegiate students who when faced with a word, or book, or lecture they find uncomfortable simply want to run from the bad words and books with bad themes. They would rather sweep the entire problem under the rug than engage with the issue. This connection is made from the Universities goal of creating “safe spaces where young adults are shielded from words and ideas that make some uncomfortable.” These students with fixed mindsets want to never even encounter the problem, and never have to think about engaging it.
