The term 'political correctness' is often misused, especially as a means to dismiss criticism aimed at harmful behavior. However, when used correctly, it refers to a situation where a critique is motivated solely by the need to conform to social or political norms, rather than by a well-reasoned argument.
Determining the correct usage of the term can be challenging, as it requires a nuanced understanding of the motivations behind the critique. Critiques may align with social expectations, but also be well-reasoned, making the social expectation a secondary consideration. The key factor in determining whether the term is being used correctly is the underlying motivation for the critique.
For example, consider the following scenario:
Person A says "Women shouldn't be allowed to vote."
Person B critiques their statement, "That's terrible! You're simply wrong!"
Two different motivations could underlie B's critique:
M1: I am only criticizing this statement to conform to social norms, but I don't actually care about women's right to vote.
M2: Women are just as capable as men of making informed decisions in an election, and denying them the right to vote is unjust.
If M1 were B's motivation, then an accusation of political correctness would be appropriate. However, if M2 were B's motivation, such an accusation would be inaccurate. Person A may attempt to use the term political correctness to discredit B's position, but without knowing B's underlying motivation, this would be an incorrect use of the term.