A lot of the time I see it used by people with extreme right wing views who use the term as a stick to beat anyone they disparagingly and sneeringly refer to as 'The liberals' ie anyone who they consider to be intellectual and therefore part of a paedophile - condoning elite. Along with 'Marxist', which means anyone who even condiders the redistribution of wealth.

Well officially it's
Alert to injustices in society,especially racism.

If this were the case I would be woke, but it appears to be selective on each individuals perception of injustice.
Hurty words, not enough free stuff, not enough benefits, jokes about anyone, the list goes on.

When I was young, certain attitudes were taken for granted.

No Irish, no blacks was often seen when places were for rent.

Words like the 'N' word and a multitude of others were commonly used against those with black skin. Those with Downs syndrome were looked down upon or pitied along with those who were called 'cripples'. Irish people were ridiculed as stupid and Irish jokes were ten a penny.

I remember talk of going 'P**i' bashing or 'Queer' bashing. Really, the examples of these attitudes are too many to mention. In my childhood this was the norm.

Many of these attitudes were defended and any defiance against them was vilified. 'what's the matter? Can't you take a joke?' would be trotted out.

I, for one, am pleased that many of these injustices have been challenged and that laws have been introduced to protect minorities from this corrosive and bullying culture. Still there were those who opposed this at the time. Many of us today shudder at the thought of past attitudes.

I suppose that is the birth of 'woke' culture. Yet there are those, even today, who still uphold blind prejudice and rail against any change of attitude. 'What's the matter? Can't you take a joke?' has been replaced by simply calling people 'snowflakes'

I should add that I'm not a fan of 'Cancel Culture', either. I feel uncomfortable that people are hauled over the coals for remarks uttered or written some fifteen years earlier when they were young.

If I'm honest, I blanch at some of the ways I acted and things I said when I was a youth but do feel that I'm a different person now. Surely, we all grow, develop and deserve a chance of redemption?

Yet, overall, I'm glad we've moved on in so many respects. I'd rather suffer feeling peeved at the excesses of sanctimonious 'Cancel Culture' than return to the 'bad old days'.