VAN DEN BERGHE, PIERRE L. “Political Correctness.” Encyclopedia of Sociology, 2nd ed., vol. 3, Macmillan Reference USA, 2001, pp. 2138-2142. Gale Virtual Reference Library, remote.baruch.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_baruch&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3404400272&asid=fe324aceab4865d6ad2fa5f191f7dece. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This article explores the history of ideas of political correctness and its development through history up to current ideas. It explores its early significance as a form of political and religious censorship aimed at stifling dissent. Then it explores current ideas of pc, highlighting three particular areas of note on the issue. Namely that first, although it is often tied to legal process it is chiefly advocated for by academic and social elites. Two, that ideas of pc generally run counter to established public opinion and interests. And lastly, that political correctness is unlike the overarching, consistent political movements on which it was based. And the article ends by examining social effects of political correctness.
Roger-Dillon, Robin. “Political Correctness (P.C.).” Race and Racism in the United States: An Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic, edited by Charles A. Gallagher and Cameron D. Lippard, vol. 3, Greenwood, 2014, p. 955. Gale Virtual Reference Library, remote.baruch.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_baruch&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3160000512&asid=622e6da972c023deff83cc26cb84c3b1. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This encyclopedia entry looks at the historical context surrounding the term political correctness. Looking both at the historical development of the term as well as the various responses to all the movements surrounding political correctness. It examines the arguments that certain words with purely negative connotations out to be removed and the responses to such arguments. Ultimately concluding that concerns surrounding censorship and free speech were most troublesome, including the possibility that reducing complicated problems such as racism to certain terms and their usage trivializes the issues.
Garcia, Justin D. “Political Correctness.” Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia, edited by Carlos E. Cortés and Jane E. Sloan, vol. 3, SAGE Reference, 2014, pp. 1718-1722. Gale Virtual Reference Library, remote.baruch.cuny.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_baruch&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3718500715&asid=e3a4cb3d430f9580e6be040c52d48f61. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This article attempts to chronicle movement and notable incidences surrounding political correctness in America. The author goes through some early events that marked the development of ideas of pc. Then the article examines some of the arguments for and against ideas of pc in detail. Then it concludes by examining some contemporary issue surrounding the debate. This encyclopedia entry serves as a good source of historical context surrounding the debate.
Ellis, Frank. “Political Correctness and the Ideological Struggle: From Lenin and Mao to Marcuse and Foucault.” The Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies 27.4 (2002): 409-44. ProQuest.Web 24 Oct. 2016 http://search.proquest.com.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/docview/216798340?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:primo&accountid=8500
In this article, the author explores the Leninist origins of political correctness and its evolution since 1917. He explores the importance of being “correct” in such socialist institutions as the Maoist regime, and the influence such ideology has had on the development of ideas of PC in the west. The author talks about how essentially this importance was about the emphasis that Lenin and Mao placed on purity in their community, both the questionable emphasis on physical purity and ideological purity. The author then attempts to tie this emphasis to current conceptions of political correctness and its corresponding emphasis on “correct” behavior and speech. Ultimately concluding that this influence can be most blatantly seen in the new left’s ideas regarding the power of words and speech to affect behavior. Although the article does at times play the association game, the historical context it provides is significant.
Hughes, Geoffery. “Political Correctness : A History of Semantics and Culture.” Baruch College. Maldon, Mass. : Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2016. http://onesearch.cuny.edu/bb:everything:CUNY_ALEPH007211891
The authors of this book attempt to provide readers with a comprehensive history of the development of ideas surrounding the effects of rhetoric on individuals and cultures. It places particular emphasis on certain literary terms and semantics that have used over time to advance or refute ideas of pc. It chronicles the development of these ideas and the terms used to expressing along cultural lines, exploring relevant cultural ideas. Although not very accessible online, it provides a very throughout background on current ideas of pc.