...out with the best on top. This is the thought many have when they hear the words “affirmative action”. Except Affirmative Action was made to address the disproportionate diversity problem in America’s universities and businesses. Yet, it has been said that the program only helps unqualified people over qualified ones and results in reverse racism. Though these accusations may have some support, most are baseless. This system can in fact help disadvantaged minorities as well as reduce racism. Affirmative Action will need to be used in a way that combats current and future racism and does not...
Words: 1002 - Pages: 5
...The negative thoughts on the ethicality of affirmative action based on race are not what they seem. Affirmative action was first implemented in the United States to create racial diversity in the workplace but has since expanded into the school admission process. Today the process of getting into a college for white Americans seems unfair as they believe that minorities are given a large advantage over them while a review of the facts can prove otherwise. White college applicants have felt cheated out of a seat when a minority without the same level of qualification is accepted into the college they were rejected from. Of those applicants the most logical reason on why they were rejected is usually pointing a finger at minorities benefiting...
Words: 831 - Pages: 4
...The Affirmative action policy was designed to provide equality and opportunity to minority groups in the United States. Affirmative action is supposed to impede discrimination in direct correlation to minorities and increase opportunities for employment and academic instruction. Race and class are parallel to the contingency gap in America. It is evident that classifying people solely on one’s race, social class or sex is oppressive, but in the same token is positive discrimination effective? In correlation to institutes of higher education, students who are bestowed acceptance due to athletic ability, legacy, minority or quota are at a further disadvantage than students who attain admission on their own merits. According to, Steven A. Carbone...
Words: 285 - Pages: 2
...Is Affirmative Action still necessary? Introduction This topic will explore if Affirmative action is still necessary in the 21st century. Affirmative Action is the encouragement of increased representation of women and minority group members, in employment. It has been commonly referred to as a positive discrimination policy or program designed to counter discrimination against minority groups and women in areas such as employment and education (dictionary.com). “Pro” position There are several reasons to justify Affirmative Action. It was developed to assist society’s less-advantaged members by promoting affirmative action policies is to remedy the effects of past discrimination. Along with the use of the Affirmative Action policy there is the recognition that wrongs have been committed in the past and acknowledgment that there is a moral obligation to set things right (pros and cons). African Americans are not the only, or even the main beneficiaries of affirmative action. There are a wide range of groups that have benefited from Affirmative Action. Some of the groups include women, Native Americans, Arab Americans, Latino/as, Asian Americans, and African Americans. According to the United States Department of Labor, it found that white women are the primary beneficiaries of affirmative action (aapf.org). “Con” position The opposing view point states that it is reverse discrimination. Those opposed of affirmative action do not contest the moral obligation to...
Words: 1603 - Pages: 7
...Issue Justin Francis Professor Nelson Psy110 2/5/2015 If you consider affirmative action for its intentional purposes than Affirmative Action is very just, its purpose being to equalize the education and economic gap between minorities and whites. Although it is not a perfect method to achieving equality in this country, it is essential to accept it for why it’s been put into place and that it is all part of a process. Of course affirmative action is far from perfect and has a fair deal of problems, like promoting reverse discrimination while backing up negative stereotypes. I researched all of these aspects while pondering the question “is affirmative action still needed in today’s society?” In this paper I will be explaining what affirmative action is.The history behind affirmative action like how it all unfolded, who made it, and the history as to why it is in effect now. I will also list some pros and cons of affirmative action, how the United States could better affirmative action for the future and finally a conclusion, which is my opinion on the topic. But what exactly is affirmative action? Born of the civil rights movement three decades ago, affirmative action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment and education acceptance decisions. Universities with affirmative action policies generally set goals to increase diversity. Affirmative action decisions are generally not supposed to be based on quotas, nor are they supposed...
Words: 2008 - Pages: 9
...“Affirmative action” means positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded. When those steps involve preferential selection—selection on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity—affirmative action generates intense controversy. Definition of Diversity The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. Back to Diversity Initiatives Home Page Pros to Affirmative action: The Pro-Affirmative Action Side: It is a Fair and Necessary Program Proponents of Affirmative Action say that it is necessary to ensure that minorities have a fair opportunity in employment and education. The American Civil Liberties Union Briefing Paper #17 lists a number of reasons why Affirmative Action remains vital; among the statistics shared: Read more at Suite101: The Pros and Cons of Affirmative...
Words: 453 - Pages: 2
...Critique of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Affirmative Action Amaris Joy, Yahoo Contributor Network Jul 11, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here." * ------------------------------------------------- More: * ------------------------------------------------- Americans with Disabilities Act * ------------------------------------------------- Americans with Disabilities Flag Close Post a comment Incidents of discrimination and matters of civil liberties often instigate changes in laws, statutes, and public policies. This paper will address the history of the American with Disabilities Act and Affirmative Action along with the pros and cons associated with each act. Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law in 1990 and prohibits employers and universities from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The act also requires institutions to make reasonable accommodations at the request of the disabled employee or student. Requests that place "undue hardship" on institutions are exempt from the law; institutions are not legally required to comply. The law states that individuals must inform the institution of all possible means of accommodation; the institution may choose the most convenient and financially feasible option (The U.S. Equal, 2008). Pros of Americans with Disabilities Act The ADA permits disabled individuals to receive an education and obtain employment thereby...
Words: 1714 - Pages: 7
...Critique of ADA and Affirmative Action To critique the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Affirmative Action, it is imperative that one knows that the Americans with Disabilities Act is a law and Affirmative Action is a policy. The Americans with Disability Act is a law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public transportation, public accommodation, communication, and in governmental activities. Affirmative Action is a policy (regulation depends on the state) that is designed to provide equal opportunity (such as employment, education, and other endeavors) to groups that are discriminated and/or minorities (race/color, religion/beliefs/creed, gender, sexual orientation, and/or national origin). Within the ADA and Affirmative Action, there are pros and cons that exist. Pros of the American Disability Act The Americans with Disability Act has helped protect the civil rights of persons with disabilities. The passing of this law has helped many disabled individuals receive recompense for the discrimination that they faced. In 1997, Wal-Mart was found guilty of discrimination by refusing to hire an individual based on the fact that he was in a wheelchair. As part of its evidence, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission introduced a videotape showing the charging party performing many physically challenging activities during his daily life (EEOC, 2012). As a result, he was granted $225,000 which consisted of back pay, compensatory...
Words: 945 - Pages: 4
...Affirmative Action in the Workplace Negative and Positive Rebecca Mikell Human Resources BUS362 Affirmative action in this time and place is a very hard area to keep in place when it comes to keeping jobs even at work for the employees. Sometimes this type of equality in the working world can be good and sometimes it can be bad, but it depends on how it is used that really makes how a person can feel when it comes to this type of treatment of employees no matter what color or sex a person is during this time period. If you take a look at what might be good about this type of action where I work five days a week, you would say that it is better on the day shift than on the night shift that is for sure, because on the night shift this is very unevenly played out as far as equality. In this day and time, affirmative action is a continuous issue in the working world. It was put into place to encourage diversity and reduce discrimination based on ethnic background and skin color. (What are the Pros and Cons of Affirmative Action) Affirmative action is used basically to show that people with ethnic backgrounds are capable of doing the same job as another person of a different color or that a woman is capable of doing the same job as a man. These days, sometimes both statements are true but not in all cases all the time. I’m sure a woman believes that she can do a job better than a man, and sometimes I am one of those people , but there are some positions that companies...
Words: 997 - Pages: 4
...ADA and Affirmative Action The United States of America is a culturally diverse place. There are people from all over the world living in here. There are people from different cultures, people with different religious and moral standards and beliefs, and people from different races and of different ethnicities. There are also people living amongst us that face special circumstances such as being physically or mentally disabled, challenged by a chronic illness or even sexual orientation. Throughout history there have been cases where people have been discriminated against, ostracized and excluded based solely on their race, culture, religion, or disabilities. The American Disabilities Act and Affirmative Action are examples of two separate laws that were put into place to protect these people, and in turn offering these people equal opportunities. The American Disabilities Act or ADA was put into place initially in 1990 by President George W. Bush. The ADA is a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities. The ADA describes a person with a disability as follows: “An individual with a disability is a person who -- has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or has a record of such an impairment” (U.S. Department of Justice, American Disabilities Act, 2012). Specific illnesses covered are epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, heart disease, mental retardation, cancer, and diabetes. Specific learning, speech and hearing...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
...industry. Her efforts in introducing affirmative action as well encouraging women and minorities to be part of real estate industry improved their conditions. However because of the mentality of being a male dominated industry in construction projects, she was facing problems of introducing and encouraging women workforce in construction industry The Case study concludes as to what Julia Stasch should do to overcome her dilemma, introduce changes and also be able to obtain the bid Metcalfe Federal building to advance the cause. OUTLINE OF THE CASE: Stein & company, founded by Richard A Stein which started as a small venture handling rehabilitation of townhouses evolved into a successful enterprise responsible for over a billion worth of commercial properties in Chicago . Julia Stasch, a socially conscious high school teacher, joined Stein and Company as a secretary to Richard Stein but rose to the status of president and chief operating officer within 15 years. Julia Stasch’s first real opportunity to address minority and women’s issues in construction began in 1984 when Stein and Company was asked by the city of Chicago to include an Affirmative Action Component in a small project. Shortly thereafter, Stein and Company was bidding to become the developer of a $360 million regional headquarter for AT&T, a telecommunications giant. Stasch suggested that Stein and Company should distinguish its bid by including a strong affirmative action component seeing AT&T’s own...
Words: 1315 - Pages: 6
... 2004 (abbreviated A&G) Supplementary materials (abbreviated S) are sold in a package by CopEz. Some supplementary items may be distributed in class or made available on the Internet. OPTIONAL MATERIALS FOR REFERENCE: Horngren, Charles T., George Foster, and Srikant M. Datar. Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis. Eleventh edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2003 (or another cost accounting text) Kaplan, Robert S., and Robin Cooper. Cost and Effect: Using Integrated Cost Systems to Drive Profitability and Performance. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1998. Kaplan, Robert S., and David P. Norton. The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1996. Porter, Michael E. Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. New York: The Free Press, 1985. Ronstadt. The Art of Case Analysis. Third edition. Lord Publishing, 1993. (1-800-525-5673) COURSE METHOD: The requiring reading for the course includes cases and chapters contained in the assigned textbook and supplementary materials. Most class...
Words: 5076 - Pages: 21
...Affirmative Action By Holly R. Allen 5.29.2010 HRM/240 “Affirmative action” means positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded. When those steps involve preferential selection—selection on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity—affirmative action generates intense controversy. In 1972, affirmative action became an inflammatory public issue. True enough, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 already had made something called “affirmative action” a remedy federal courts could impose on violators of the Act. Likewise, after 1965 federal contractors had been subject to President Lyndon Johnson's Executive Order 11246, requiring them to take “affirmative action” to make sure they were not discriminating. Your company should hire people based on talent, experience, skill level for the job they are applying for. Your hiring shouldn’t be based on if the man or woman is black, white, mexican, asian or some other race or ethinicity. A person should be able to go apply for a job and not have to worry if they are being discriminated against. If they have all the training and experience to do the job correctly and you say, no we cant hire you at this time and you don’t give them a good answer of why they werent considered for the job, this can cause a load of problems and could even lead to lawsuits. If a minority...
Words: 806 - Pages: 4
...The policy of affirmative action should be abolished in the Unites States as this practice is not making good to US society on its policy against discrimination. It is in effect violating what it is supposed to protect and could lead to other worse consequences like creating crippling effect upon minority groups because of its obvious message of inferiority , reverse racism , lowering standards of accountability hence rewarding race instead of hard work , showing that the people hired through affirmative action can lead to unqualified workers , leading to create a true `color blind` society , condescending to minorities about their need for affirmative action , demeaning the achievement of minorities , by attributing their success due to affirmative action and not hard work . Affirmative action has a crippling effect upon minority groups because of its obvious message of inferiority. Affirmative action assumes that minority groups are of inferiority quality and hence they should be taken care of and they should not be allowed to compete in the market place. It is actually unfair to these minorities because it has actually described them as being unable to fend for themselves within the business /work environment. Not only that it is demeaning to minorities but it also unfair to white males that rely on their skill rather then their color . Therefore, further sustaining the policy is simply an act lack of common sense and realization on how it is to live in free economy...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
...Affirmative Action Author’s note This research is being submitted on November 5th, 2013, for Jean Juchnowiccz’s 5000 Human Resources Management Course. Affirmative Action in the Workplace When you think of affirmative action in the workplace do you think of equal rights for all, or just equal rights for minorities. Affirmative action is the extent to which employers make an effort through their personal practices to attract retain, and upgrade members of the protected classes of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, (Bernardin & Russell 2013). In easier terms affirmative action is known to be the equal opportunity measures that Federal contractors and subcontractors are legally required to adopt to prevent discrimination against employees or applicants on the basis of color, religion, sex or national origin (Wikipedia 2013). Below I’ll introduce some ideas of how affirmative action is used in the workplace, through affirmative action plans, promotion within the workplace, and affirmative action with private companies. Affirmative action began in the United States as a tool to address the persistent discrimination against African Americans in 1960 (Wikipedia 2013). During that time most Americans who were not considered in the highest social class, males, and from European decent, where passed over for employment opportunities and advancements in the work place. When President John F. Kennedy mandated affirmative action into the workplace for the Federal Government and sub-contractors...
Words: 1202 - Pages: 5
