Seniors believe "having to be politically correct all the time" is ruining society. Photo / Getty
Seniors believe "having to be politically correct all the time" is ruining society. Photo / Getty
By Liz Burke
Attention, Gen Y: Baby Boomers have had it with your political correctness.
New Australian research suggests over 50s are fed up with being told what they can and can't say, and believe young people are the worst offenders.
The survey of 1000 Australians over 50 saw nine in 10 agree political correctness is ruining society, and thought younger generations were too worried about offending people.
According to the CoreData research commissioned by Australian Seniors Insurance Agency, 86 per cent of seniors believed "having to be politically correct all the time" was ruining society, and 86.6 per cent said it was "inauthentic".
Bathurst teacher Vicki Evans is not afraid to admit she loathes political correctness.
The 55-year-old says she's constantly being told off by her three children, all in their 20s, for opinions they say she shouldn't be allowed to express.
"The number of times I saw something and my kids say 'oh Mum, you can't say that,'" she says.
"They say you can't make assumptions about things, but I think you can make observations.
"You can't say anything that's offensive and that could be deemed to label anyone. You have to be always aware of perceptions, apparently."
Ms Evans says that her children's sensitivities are clearly not a product of her parenting, but blames universities and television for encouraging political correctness.
Photo / Herald Graphic
"I do get really cross with the whole idea that children aren't allowed to talk about anything religious in relation to Christmas or Easter because it might offend someone," she said. "I think if we can't discuss any of these things we run the risk of losing our cultural identity."
The data also indicated that Aussies grew less concerned about social norms and pleasing others as they grew older.
Almost a third (31 per cent) said they no longer cared about social norms or pleasing others.
Two in five (42.7 per cent) admitted to having shared politically incorrect jokes, and a quarter (24.3 per cent) said they used humour even if they knew it might make some people uncomfortable. One in five admitted they had used politically incorrect humour "among inappropriate company".
Australian Seniors Computer Club Association president Nan Bosler said seniors were resisting societal pressure to be politically correct.
Photo / Herald Graphic
"Seniors are not letting this pressure deter them from staying true to themselves and their beliefs and they should be respected for that attitude," she said.
"Australia's older generation have been through a momentous amount of change and challenges, and this has made them a resilient bunch who value good humour and are not easily offended by lighthearted teasing.
"Therefore, it is easy to understand why this generation can be frustrated with certain political correct filters that are assumed in modern-day living."
