Annals of the University of Oradea: Economic Science (Jul 2021)
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Abstract
In a world increasingly trying to erase past inequalities and discriminations, words must communicate intent as much as ideas. We live in politically correct cultures, where unspoken rules of respectability govern conduct in cross-cultural interactions, meaning interactions among people of different races, genders, or religions. Therefore, it is essential to use politically correct language to avoid offending the audience. Even if it is not intended, failing to do so can have devastating effects professionally and personally. As it is frequently seen in the media, writing or speaking without using politically correct or inclusive language can have a negative impact that proves impossible to take back, especially in today’s age of social media and online content sharing. Politically correct means expressing yourself using neutral, unbiased, and inoffensive language that does not degrade, demoralize, or discriminate against another person or group. Inclusive language considers all perspectives without exclusion, inferiority, or stereotyping. Conspicuous prejudice and discrimination in the workplace are far less acceptable today. Laws now protect traditionally underrepresented groups from flagrant discrimination in hiring and promotion, and political correctness has reset the standards for politeness and respect in people’s daily interactions. Yet, in spite of the progress mentioned, political correctness is an equivocal term. While it has helped many traditionally underrepresented employees to experience their workplace as more inclusive, the rules of political correctness can prevent employees from developing effective relationships across differences that might divide groups. The paper attempts to analyze the rise and enforcement of political correctness rules related to the ongoing economic processes in the new economy of the world. In this new economy, the organizational boundaries between states and firms become unclear and, apart from conceiving a new vocabulary able to express the changes the firms are undergoing, when speaking or writing, all members of the audience should be included and addressed using inclusive language.
