“Affirmative action” refers to policies that are designed to increase the presence of “underrepresented” demographic groups – particularly racial or ethnic minorities – in specific sectors of the workforce or in the student bodies of American universities. Affirmative action policies are founded on the premise that any observed imbalance in a given workforce or student […]
“Affirmative action” refers to policies that are designed to increase the presence of “underrepresented” demographic groups – particularly racial or ethnic minorities – in specific sectors of the workforce or in the student bodies of American universities. Affirmative action policies are founded on the premise that any observed imbalance in a given workforce or student body is due, either wholly or in part, to past and/or present discrimination – the remedy for which consists of compensatory preferences in favor of the underrepresented group(s). These measures most commonly take the form of lowered standards (for the hiring, promotion, or admission of members of preferred groups) and set-asides (which reserve or earmark a designated percentage of slots for members of the preferred groups).
Supporters of affirmative action contend that eradicating the practice would increase — to society’s detriment — economic disparities between whites and underrepresented minorities. They argue further that affirmative action is of great benefit to society as a whole, because it brings added diversity to the racial and ethnic composition of the workplace and the campus — thereby encouraging better relations between whites and nonwhites.
Opponents of affirmative action argue the following: