what's wrong with being pc?

[Kyburz at asu.edu]

Far too simplistic a reading of multiculturalism, which suggests not 
simply *lip service* and, simply, assuming the moniker, only, of "color 
blind," but seeks to explore and problematize the sources or 
racism,sexism, whatever, the assumptions that guide it vs. our lived 
experiences.  It is contextualized, problematic.  Much  more complex.  
And there's a hell of a lot more written on it that one 
article in Harper's.  See Trimbur & Bullock's THE POLITICS OF WRITING 
INSTRUCTION: POSTSECONDARY, or Henry Giroux (anything) or bell hooks.  
Lisa Delprit has a wonderful piece on the desires of marginalized groups 
to learn *skills* that will get them jobs, as opposed to exploring 
diversity, which will help them to think--and, by extension, hopefully, 
to lead productive lives within contexts that would have them view those 
lives uncritically.

So many teachers I know are willing to refer to mc as pc, avoiding the 
real dynamic exchanges that take place when mc is conceived of as highly 
complex and worthy of investigation both as heuristic and as critical 
thinking -- even as the lesson itself.

as for not allowing minority groups to "participate in a power 
structure," they have to understand their positions vis-a-vis power 
structures in order to get some.  This calls for examining minority lives 
in real context, often ugly, not "pc."  

and money?  I won't go there, given this forum, but I will add that the 
"incorporation" argument is a bit reductive, as well.

Jean, I usually like what you have to say and recognize that you may 
simply be attempting to characterize the debates.  I simply can't take 
these reductions lightly anymore, and so am resonding, similarly, to a 
larger, global set of concerns.


Forgive me, but the retrogressive epistemologies of old keep wafting back 
into vogue.

Bonnie L. Kyburz (sig below)



On Wed, 30 Oct 1996 LBernier at tribune.com wrote:

>      Diana, there are those who claim that PC-ness, as defined by those who 
>      would treat ethnic groups with kid gloves (i.e., always using the 
>      nom-du-maintenant when referring to said ethnic group, "sympathising" 
>      with their plight, etc.) is condescending, priggish, and generally 
>      racist, but oh so subtle.  The idea being that, in a perfect world, 
>      you plain wouldn't notice any difference, but would treat everyone the 
>      same, black, white, purple, whateber.  
>      
>      There is also the idea that multi-culturalism can be used to isolate 
>      and marginalize groups, by relegating them to some minority slot, and 
>      not allowing them to participate fully in the power structure.  There 
>      was an interesting article in Harper's a couple of years ago that 
>      pointed out the corporate cash-in aspect of multiculturalism as well.  
>      Sorry, I don't remember the issue.
>      
>      Jean.
>      
>      
>      
> 
> ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
> Subject: Re: what's wrong with being pc?
> Author:  Diana York Blaine <dyb0001 at jove.acs.unt.edu> at Internet_tco
> Date:    10/30/96 8:46 AM
> 
> 
> um, ted, did I miss something?  "Lady" bosses who are stupid?  I was 
> asking about political correctness and how it's ethnocentric.  Since we 
> are in America and I believed in the pap about equality, I am just 
> surprised that so many people take umbrage anytime some marginalized group 
> points out that it aint coming their way.  Sorry for your troubles!  Diana
>      
> 

Bonnie L. Kyburz, Instructor
Department of English			(602) 965-7756 (office)
Arizona State University		kyburz at asu.edu
Tempe, AZ  85287-0302			*or* surfus at chuma.cas.usf.edu