It is curious this topic seems to be showing up so often here. Is it because people are honestly wanting to understand why “wokeness” is perceived negatively? Or is it because people want assurance that it’s just a figment of right-wing hysteria?
When I use woke pejoratively, it’s in reference to a slavish adherence to certain codes of conduct that purport to promote progressivism but in practice achieve illiberalism. This happens when going against these codes of conduct opens people up to disproportionate consequences, which creates a chilling effect that inhibits the very things progressives have historically celebrated. Like free speech, diversity of thought, a healthy distrust towards corporate machinery, intellectual curiosity, and irreverent humor.
In my view, “wokeness” has the tightest hold on people and groups that are extra sensitive to being seen as privileged and oppressive. Because they are extra motivated to “be on the right side of history”, they follow these regimented codes of conduct to keep them from being like the unenlightened bigots they want to distance themselves from. This is a well-meaning desire, but the emotion behind it increases their susceptibility to dogmatism and groupthink.
What is alleged to have happened to the woman in the story below is what comes to mind when I (and others like me) think of “wokeness”. Obviously I have no way of verifying what she is claiming is true, but nothing she alleges strikes me as fanciful. For instance, plenty of academics still insist on using Latinx even though polls show the Hispanic community is largely alienated by that term. This is a clear example of how a code of conduct meant to be progressively inclusive actually swings around to be the very opposite. This has a disparate impact on historically marginalized groups —which again goes against the aims of true progressivism.
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Progressives are well within their rights to deny there is a problem with “wokeness”. But denials don’t really do anything to combat the perception that an extreme element has successfully hijacked leftist thought. You can’t combat what you pretend doesn’t exist. It would be better not to discuss this topic at all than to generate post after post railing about conservatives who talk about it.