Affirmative action has been the subject of increasing debate and tension in our society.

Affirmative action has divided political parties, communities and campuses across the

nation. The basis behind affirmative action is that because of past discrimination and

oppression, such as the unequal treatment of women, and the enslavement of African

Americans, minorities and women have difficulty competing with their white male

counterparts. Tax breaks for home buyers may not be wrong but what is wrong are those

who take advantage of all kinds of breaks for themselves while denying affirmative action

for the most oppressed of society. The government runs many programs to increase

opportunities for various groups including women, racial and ethnic minority groups.

Affirmative action is necessary to ensure the recruitment and employment of women,

minorities, people with disabilities, and Vietnam veterans.

Affirmative action is a term, which refers to a variety of efforts used by employers

and educational institutions to overcome past and continuing discrimination in order to

allow qualified women and minorities to compete equally for jobs, education, and

promotional opportunities. When talking about affirmative action, there is a common

misconception between meeting quota and satisfying goals. A quota is a number that must

be achieved. Consequently, if a company fails to show it has made an effort toward

following this quota the company can be fined. This is every different from an affirmative

action goal. A goal is a flexible percentage, which is established by the company to achieve

a diverse workforce. The percentage is based on the availability of minorities and females

in the area. One of the goals is to make sure that many people are made aware of job

openings as possible to ensure that the applicant pool is reflective of the number of people,

who are qualified. To accomplish this, employers place advertisements in different types of

journals, including journals for women and minorities. Goals and timetables encourage the

hiring of members of women and minority groups.

Before affirmative action, companies did not post their jobs on bulletin boards.

Somebody just happened to know someone who needed a job and the job was filled. That

person was not always the best-qualified person for the job. How can a company possibly

tell if it is hiring the best people if they only consider a small portion of the population?

One cannot assume that all the white males out there are naturally qualified and all the

minorities and women are given breaks because they could not possibly be qualified.

Affirmative action involves recruitment efforts to ensure that every applicant pool includes

a diverse mix of people. Affirmative action programs in employment consist of posting and

publicizing job notices in locations that are seem by a wide range of people. These

programs do not reach out to unqualified individuals but instead are designed to increase

the number of qualified applicants for employment. If among a list of finalists for a job

there is a woman or a minority candidate, that candidate shall be chosen unless another

candidate is prove to be better qualified. Critics attack affirmative action by assuming that

it results in the hiring of less qualified minorities over more qualified whites. Affirmative

action is not about less qualified workers, but about looking for employees in various

places. Affirmative action used correctly only brings in qualified people. Nonetheless,

there are instances when certain positions are given to minorities, but there are probably at

least twice as many instances when minorities do not get jobs because they are minorities.

Affirmative action brings in great workers who might have been otherwise overlooked.

Minorities have the qualifications and are willing to work hard. All they need is the

opportunity to show it.

Affirmative action programs in contracting are often targeted for women-owned

firms, minority-owned firms, or forms that show a disadvantage. Such programs are

traditionally excluded. Affirmative action creates opportunities with contractors. The work

comes through relationships but that first opportunity to build a relationship comes from

affirmative action.

Affirmative action in education can consist of early outreach programs, recruitment

programs, efforts in admissions to diversify the student population, and specific financial

aid opportunities. Contrary to common belief, affirmative steps are not limited to

minorities. Colleges offer programs such as scholarship, tutoring, and outreach are

targeted toward minority and women students. These colleges have been able to diversify

and at the same time greatly strengthen the class academically. Graduation rates for

minority students are rapidly increasing. The only effective way to address inequality of

opportunity is by making sure that all children are provided with the same tools to

compete in our society.

Some feel that affirmative action plans increase reverse discrimination. Qualified

white males are being passed over for promotion or a job because women or members of a

minority have applied for the same job. The woman or a minority is hired not because they

are qualified but because of affirmative action. One of the biggest complaints about

affirmative action is that it is aimed at helping African Americans and that these programs

give preferential treatment to undeserving minorities because of the color of their skin.

What about athletes and legacy students who are given preferential treatment in university

admission decisions on a yearly basis due to their white ancestry? Affirmative action

cannot be reverse discrimination because it is not just for people of color. If a female is

equally qualified then as an affirmative action effort, she should be hired. This is not

preferential treatment.

Another misconception about affirmative action is that they stigmatize and call into

question the credentials of the qualified minorities. We hear a lot about so-called stigma of

affirmative action for minorities and women. We are told that affirmative action harms the

psyches of African Americans, Latinos, and women. For some reason, veterans are not

stigmatized by the GI Bill and Europeans are not stigmatized by the Marshall plan. Why is

it that only when the beneficiaries of affirmative action are women and people of color is

there a stigma? Affirmative action gives minorities the opportunities to challenge

stereotypes and stigmas.

To be fair and equitable society, it is important that those who are disadvantages

know there is equal opportunity for them to become the best they can be. This is exactly

what affirmative action is all about. Giving to the disadvantages a little help to compete

equally, recognize their potential, and give back to the community. Affirmative action

working as it should, gives women and minorities greater equality and opportunity in a

society that has so many inequalities. Our society must be persistent in our continuation to

ensure equal opportunity for all. Learning about other groups and learning to work with a

wide range of individuals is absolutely necessary for the survival of our society. Since we

do not live in a color-blind society, affirmative action may reduce racial tension by forcing

people to interact and work together. It is there to make things the way they should be:

fair. Until someone comes up with a better system, or prejudices are eliminated, we will

always need affirmative action.

Bibliography

WORKS CITED.

1. Rockwell, Paul, “Angry White Guys for Affirmative Action”, California, 1996.

2. Algeo C., “Affirmative Action”, California, 1996.

3. Hirsch, J., “Affirmative Action”, California, 1996.

4. Rockwell, Paul, “Four Affirmative Action Myths”, California, 1996.

5. Lewis, Brian C., “An Ethical and Practical Defense of Affirmative Action”, 1996.

6. Hill, John, “Affirmative Action: Roots to Success”, California, 1997.

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