Image from: Main Wire
by: kate murray, summer 2021 collaborator at power in place
In the last few years, many Americans have experienced an increased threat to their free speech. Offhand comments that would have gone unacknowledged a decade ago have now fallen victim to “PC culture,” the growing tendency to disapprovingly call out language that perpetuates the oppression of marginalized people in the name of inclusion. Political correctness has especially gained traction amongst college-educated young people, many of whom have been newly exposed to critical race theory and the complexities of systemic oppression. However, a large number of Americans (especially those of older generations and whose political values are right of center) have responded to PC culture with disdain. When those on the PC bandwagon don’t hesitate to call out the offensive language that was previously permissible, it is met with indignation and chagrin. People begin to feel “like they can’t say anything anymore” because liberals always look for the “negative” in every interaction. While this growing resentment of PC culture is not going anywhere anytime soon, it may be the price we have to pay for a more equitable society. The world needs more killjoys, people who are uncomfortable with the status quo and will speak up to change it at whatever cost. Furthermore, this social justice-forward approach needs to be led by young people, for they are the ones who will set the terms for future discourse and lay the groundwork for systemic change.
The concept of the killjoy stems from the work of Sara Ahmed, a British teacher and intellectual who originally wrote about killjoys in the context of feminism. Feminist killjoys have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to misogynist language, and they do not hesitate to call it out even when it comes at the cost of personal discomfort, lingering awkwardness, or even the end of personal relationships. Killjoys accept that many will view them as downers, but that this is the price they have to pay for boldly and unapologetically proclaiming that the lives of marginalized people matter. In effect, killjoys complain. In a keynote address given on May 31, 2021, Sara Ahmed said:
“...a complaint can be an expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction; something that is a cause of a protest or outcry, a bodily ailment, or a formal allegation...In making a formal complaint, you have to become expressive.”
In my view, the concept of the feminist killjoy can expand beyond what are typically viewed as “women’s issues” and apply to combating social inequities in general. From a feminist lens, all forms of oppression are intertwined with the patriarchy; therefore, being a killjoy becomes about eliminating racism, homophobia, classism, etc. as well as misogyny. Simply put, killjoys lead with their commitment to social justice in every human interaction, and as a result, they don’t hesitate to call attention to offensive language and behavior.
This often means acknowledging that the comments people make are understable, but not excusable. For instance, someone might imply that a person’s race or ethnic background led them to be unnecessarily hostile in an interaction. While it is understandable that one would be upset about being spoken to harshly, it is inappropriate to blame a person’s racial identity for their behavior, especially when it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about that racial group. Saying something “un-PC” in a venting moment is something many can empathize with, but killjoys understand that they can express understanding for someone’s frustration while also communicating that their use of language is unacceptable.
It's important to recognize that there are dangers in placing too much emphasis on the surveillance of language. There are plenty of self-proclaimed killjoys who take pleasure in informing others of the “politically correct” way to speak while doing nothing actionable to better the conditions of marginalized people. In my mind, these are performative killjoys who do not fully comprehend what it means to lead a life that is social-justice forward. Inclusive language requires inclusive action.
Secondly, it's also important to acknowledge that not all killjoys may feel safe to speak out against injustice 24/7. Those who walk through the world in marginalized bodies live with threats to their existence, a fact many are reminded of on a daily basis. This may require staying silent in the face of adversity as a matter of physical and/or mental safety, which no killjoy should ever be expected to endure. Audre Lorde expresses this eloquently in her book “A Burst of Light”:
"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
It is for this exact reason that killjoys with privilege need to use that privilege in moments where their marginalized peers feel threatened.
Being a killjoy is easier said than done. There will always be times where we mess up, where we wish we would have said or done something differently. But this is a practice that young people cannot afford to abandon. In her book “Living a Feminist Life,” Sara Ahmed wrote:
“Survival can thus be what we do for others, with others. We need each other to survive; we need to be part of each other's survival.”
This is a killjoy’s mission, despite the work’s inevitable imperfections. If we ever want to witness a world that is more inclusive, just, and equitable, we must dedicate ourselves to the practice of disruption.
Kate Murray (she/her) is a rising senior at Mount Holyoke College double-majoring in Politics and Sociology. She is an opinion writer for the college’s newspaper and is involved in social justice activism, with a particular focus on gender inclusion and voting rights. As a summer intern for Power in Place, she co-facilitates the newsletter team and contributes to the blog.
