The Band-Aid: An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Politically Correct Language in American Society

Abstract

If the norm of using politically correct language is supposed to be uniting America as a nation, then why do we seem to be more divided over issues like race, gender, and sexuality than ever before? I propose that politically correct language is not working because it’s essentially functioning like a Band-Aid on a wound; PCL fixes our social issues on the surface, but does not have the capacity to heal them in and of itself. Only once we recognize both the necessity and insufficiency of PCL can we begin to truly heal our country’s social wounds and find unity.