Gendered Speech in Society and the Academy: A Consideration of the ''Principle of Reversibility'' and its Application

With reference to the question of women and of socio-cultural minorities in higher education, the author examines the concept of political correctness (PC). Based on the ''principle of reversibility'', it can be a liberating factor, but if it is manipulated by dominant socio-economic forces, it can also be a force favouring divisive social and economic control. The question is, how can the liberating aspects of PC be enabled to predominate over the others.