Public debate surrounding the use and meaning of the term woke

The term woke, originating from African American vernacular to describe awareness of social inequality, has become a focal point of contemporary political discourse. While historically associated with civil rights movements like Black Lives Matter, the term is currently being utilized by various right-wing political figures as a pejorative. Politicians including Donald Trump, Christos Christou, Afroditi Latinopoulou, and Marios Pelekanos have publicly criticized what they label as a woke agenda, describing it as a threat to societal values. Conversely, critics of this rhetoric argue that these policies represent fundamental rights already established in many Western nations. These rights include same-sex marriage, legal gender recognition supported by the European Court of Human Rights, and constitutional recognition of same-sex adoption in Greece as of 2024. The debate highlights a deep ideological divide between those who view these social changes as essential progress and those who characterize them as a dismantling of traditional ideals. Despite the negative framing by certain politicians, many of these rights have been legally enshrined in Europe for years, including civil partnerships which have been legal in Greece since 2015.