Attitude Quote by Clare Short
“Political correctness is a concept invented by hard-rightwing forces to defend their right to be racist, to treat women in a degrading way and to be truly vile about gay people. They invent this idea of people who are politically correct, with a rigid, monstrous attitude to life so they can attack. But we have all had to learn to modify our language. That's all part of being a decent human being.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on political discourse, 2015
The term “political correctness” is portrayed as a tool used by right‑wing groups to label and attack progressive ideas, while society still needs to adapt language to be respectful.
In simple terms: People misuse “political correctness” to dismiss inclusive language.
Recognize respectful language as a virtue, not a weapon.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public debate
- education
- media analysis
- personal interactions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling affect constructive dialogue?
- When does critique become a weapon?
The claim oversimplifies complex social dynamics and can silence legitimate critique.