The usual argument hurled at activist communities is that they're promoting a culture that prioritizes political correctness over expression (also referred to as 'pc culture'); to the point where it restricts freedoms. What they fail to realize is, there is a distinctive difference between activism and political correctness.
Activism and political correctness are not one in the same. Political correctness has a very cold, distant, and duteous connotation. Its connotation lacks authenticity and sincerity, since political correctness is something we coerce ourselves to partake in at appropriate times, to not offend. Activism has an abundance of genuine effort and care and is truly something that is practiced beyond politically correct environments.
What occurs when one is being politically correct? They put on a guise of some sort, pretending to act a certain way or speak in a vocabulary beyond their everyday speech, to be viewed as acceptable and to attract a crowd. For instance, I recall times where I was in professional settings, so I plastered a fraudulent smile on my face and spoke as sophisticated as I could. I wasn't really me. Whenever I'm participating in activist endeavors, I am me. I am genuine in my efforts, when it comes to activism. It isn't me being politically correct. Activism isn't putting on a front for superficial reasons; it's fighting for what you believe in. Political correctness and activism have no correlation with the other in this context.
Activists are met with being accused of being politically correct, while in their authentic efforts to fight for change, bettering humanity as best as they are able to. What one may consider being politically correct is what another may consider being a decent human being. To some activists, it is belittling to think that genuine inclusivity of all persons of all identities is being politically correct. As if the act in itself isn't of significance and is merely a trivial entity. The term "political correctness" can leave a bitter feeling within activists, who are greeted with the insult.
Activists fighting against conventional constructs for the betterment of humanity, which is far from being deceptive as being politically correct is, aren't doing what they do for cookies or to be viewed as morally superior; it's simply their efforts to push for equity.