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Reactionary [[politician]]s and [[pundit]]s allege that instead of encouraging supposedly marginalized groups to integrate with and assimilate into the mainstream of Western culture, political correctness ironically encourages them to emphasize and indeed to wallow in their marginalization from society, and to make a public display of such. This is known as [[identity politics]]. According to this view, gays and lesbians are therefore encouraged to label themselves as "queer" and make public displays of "queerness" calculated to disturb the sensibilities of mainstream people, rather than integrate into the mainstream themselves; Black Americans are encouraged to adopt [[Afrocentrism]] and convert to [[Islam]], etc.
Reactionary [[politician]]s and [[pundit]]s allege that instead of encouraging supposedly marginalized groups to integrate with and assimilate into the mainstream of Western culture, political correctness ironically encourages them to emphasize and indeed to wallow in their marginalization from society, and to make a public display of such. This is known as [[identity politics]]. According to this view, gays and lesbians are therefore encouraged to label themselves as "queer" and make public displays of "queerness" calculated to disturb the sensibilities of mainstream people, rather than integrate into the mainstream themselves; Black Americans are encouraged to adopt [[Afrocentrism]] and convert to [[Islam]], etc.
==The Language Police==
In her book "The Language Police" Diane Ravitch documents just how easy it is to get a word, phrase or idea banned from modern textbooks and references. As with everything, follow the money trail. Textbook producers are beholden to educational boards in a few key states such as New York or California. Once a big state makes a textbook purchase, it's very difficult for a small state or any muncipality to make any changes. Thus, profound changes can be inserted into textbooks and reference books by putting pressure on educational boards. The work of textbook selection committee's is done privately, to avoid politicizing textbooks, but the reverse has happened. It's easier to pressure a lawmaker who is not beholden to community standards, but instead is enamored with political correctness. <ref>The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Children Learn by Diane Ravitch (c) 2003 published by Knopf</ref> Ravitch has documented "''bias guidelines''" for major publishers of texts and tests. These "guidelines" consist of advice to writers and editors about words and topics that must be avoided.<ref>http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003695</ref> There are many outrageous examples of what is now considered objectionable in modern text books:
* "Women cannot be depicted as caregivers or doing household chores.
* "Men cannot be lawyers or doctors or plumbers. They must be nurturing helpmates.
* "Old people cannot be feeble or dependent; they must jog or repair the roof.
* "A story that is set in the mountains discriminates against students from flatlands.
* "Children cannot be shown as disobedient or in conflict with adults.
* "Cake cannot appear in a story because it is not nutritious. " <ref>http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375414824</ref>
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==See also==
==See also==