wokeism
Social justice ideology
Wokeism is a disparaging term for progressive politics, particularly around race, gender, and social justice.
Critics use it to characterize what they see as excessive or performative concern with identity and systemic oppression: The university has been captured by wokeism.
The term implies ideology rather than genuine awareness—rigidity where "woke" once suggested enlightenment.
Rarely used by those sympathetic to the views it describes.
Philosophy advocating societal reform
- cancel cultureMass public shunning online
- social justiceFair distribution of opportunities
- identity politicsCollective action via shared characteristics
- political correctnessAvoiding exclusionary language
leftism · activism · virtue signaling · intersectionality · critical theory · liberal · Democrat · partisan
State of varied elements
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- inclusionBeing made part
- representationDepiction or likeness
- systemic racismDiscrimination embedded in institutions
privilege · microaggressions · unconscious bias · allyship · antiracism · decolonization · pronouns · safe spaces
Exceed one's capacity
- performativeDone for appearance's sake
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- intoleranceUnwillingness to accept differences
mob mentality · purity tests · cancellation · outrage · hypocrisy · sanctimony · self-righteousness · double standards
Of or relating to companies
- HREmployee management department
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- workplaceEmployment location
university · Hollywood · media · curriculum · hiring · quotas · ESG · statements
progressivism
Philosophy advocating societal reform
- cancel cultureMass public shunning online
- social justiceFair distribution of opportunities
- identity politicsCollective action via shared characteristics
political correctness · leftism · activism · virtue signaling · intersectionality · critical theory · liberal · Democrat · partisan · ideology
diversity
State of varied elements
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- inclusionBeing made part
- representationDepiction or likeness
systemic racism · privilege · microaggressions · unconscious bias · allyship · antiracism · decolonization · pronouns · safe spaces · trigger warnings
overreach
Exceed one's capacity
- performativeDone for appearance's sake
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
intolerance · mob mentality · purity tests · cancellation · outrage · hypocrisy · sanctimony · self-righteousness · double standards · illiberalism
corporate
Of or relating to companies
- HREmployee management department
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- complianceAdhering to requirements
workplace · university · Hollywood · media · curriculum · hiring · quotas · ESG · statements · policies
wokeismconservatism
Preference for existing institutions
traditionalism · social conservatism · white nationalism · paleoconservatism · classical liberalism
wokeismcolorblindness
Impaired hue discrimination
race-blindness · individualism · meritocracy · universalism · humanism
wokeismtraditionalism
Adherence to inherited customs
heritage preservation · social conformity · nationalism · patriotism · populism