The word woke literally means “awakened” in English and remains associated with American progressive movements. It symbolizes a social revolution and serves as a standard for anti-racism, feminist causes, etc.
The term woke is not new. He is used throughout the 20th century across the Atlantic by African-American communities. The latter used to use the expression being woke. At that time, the issue behind this phrase lay in the struggles of these minorities against economic exploitation. A way to remain vigilant in the face of abusive relationships and injustices that could occur in professional and personal relationships. The term has evolved a lot. With the arrival of the 21st century, the word woke is far from having lost popularity.
What is Wokism?
The term “wokism” comes from the English “woke”, which means “awake” to social injustices, such as racism and inequality. It is often used to describe increased awareness of social and cultural issues, particularly around minority rights, feminism, and social justice. However, the term has evolved and can be used pejoratively to criticize people or movements that are perceived as excessively politicized or moralistic. Wokism is therefore a concept that can generate support for its attention to injusticesjust as it can provoke criticism and debate about its methods or its perceived effects on freedom of expression and public debate.
Woke: the social ideology behind this anglicism
The term woke retains a global dimension in terms of social struggle, because it covers the fights against several forms of discrimination: racial, gender, social class, religion, etc. We start from the postulate that our societies do not treat everyone equally, which creates inequalities that are sometimes destructive. Appropriating the term woke means staying awake to protect those left behind from injustice. Woke causes therefore cover facts such as demonstrations against police violence, actions of the MeToo movement, demands in favor of gender equality, adherence to pro-LGBT opinions, mobilizations against global warming, etc. . In France and internationally, the leaders of the woke movement remain associated with left-wing political opinions.
The term woke: the basis of a form of social activism
Nowadays, we refer to the term woke to designate those who are outraged by injustices, racial discrimination and towards all minorities, and who support the feminist cause. The word implies a militant approach since it concerns individuals who actively fight them. Claiming to be woke is not limited to a simple political opinion. The word woke is now found at the base of a movement of thought called wokism. The latter is linked to a social movement born in the United States in the early 2010s. It all started in 2014 with the death of Michael Brown, a black man shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson.. This event marks the birth of Black Lives Matter slogan, precursor of wokism.
What are Wokes people?
People qualified as “woke” are often those who demonstrate an acute and active awareness of social and cultural inequalities and who strive to promote social justice. This term is generally associated with individuals who are very attentive to minority rights, gender equality, and other progressive social issues. Although the intention of these people is often to defend human rights and combat prejudice, the term “woke” can sometimes be used in a critical or mocking manner by those who see this attitude as excessive or a form of restrictive political correctness. In short, being “woke” can be seen positively as a mark of vigilance and commitment to fairness, or negatively as an excess of ideological zeal.
What is Woke Culture?
Woke culture refers to a social movement characterized by increased awareness and sensitivity to social injustices and inequalities, such as racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. It manifests itself through efforts to include and value the voices and experiences of marginalized groups. Woke culture is often characterized by active activism, for example through social media, where participants can call for social change, criticize behavior deemed oppressive, or support various causes such as the movement Black Lives Matter.
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