Definition of Woke
The term “woke”, typically refers to an individual or ideology perceived as being excessively or self-righteously aware of social issues, often to the point of being dogmatic or intolerant of differing viewpoints. Being “woke” may involve adopting extreme or rigid stances on social justice topics, dismissing alternative perspectives, and engaging in “cancel culture” or online shaming tactics against those who do not align with their beliefs, overzealousness and ideological rigidity associated with certain factions of the social justice movement.
“Woke” is often associated with Virtue signalling, which refers to the practice of publicly expressing one’s moral or ethical beliefs, values, or actions primarily with the intent of demonstrating one’s own righteousness or gaining social approval. It involves engaging in conspicuous displays of support for certain causes or beliefs, often through public statements, social media posts, or symbolic gestures. The term is typically used in a critical or sarcastic manner to suggest that the person engaging in virtue signalling is more concerned with appearing virtuous or morally superior rather than actively working towards meaningful change or taking substantive action.
Virtue signalling is being disingenuous, superficial, and lacking in genuine commitment to the issues being highlighted. It often focuses on performative actions rather than making tangible differences in the world. Additionally, virtue signalling can be a form of self-promotion or a means to gain social status or acceptance within certain communities.
