Affirmative Action
Affirmative action can be described as an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination usually in relation to employment or education. It can be described as positive discrimination. This can include race, color, religion, sex and national origin. This policy is normally enforced by the government or a private institution.
The idea of affirmative action was first introduced on March 6, 1961. President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which included a provision that government contractors take “affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and employees are treated equally during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin”. This was the first time the actual word affirmative action is used. In 1965, President Johnson issued Executive Order 11246 requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to ensure equality of employment opportunity without regard to race, religion and national origin. In 1968, gender was added to the protected categories.
An employer or a public educational institution must have an affirmative action plan (AAP) in order to address and eliminate discrimination. “For example, a public university's AAP might include policies used during the admission process. An employer's AAP would set forth guidelines for hiring and promoting members of minority groups, including women, to address and correct any past employment practices that were discriminatory. Many banks are required to implement AAPs. Employers who have entered into contracts to do business with the federal government must also develop AAPs (Affirmative Action 1)”. This tends to narrow affirmative action to dealing with public universities and businesses most often.
CONS
Affirmative action can lead to reverse discrimination. Basically, a white man and an African apply for the same job with the same credentials, but because of affirmative action the African man will receive... [continues]
Affirmative action can be described as an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination usually in relation to employment or education. It can be described as positive discrimination. This can include race, color, religion, sex and national origin. This policy is normally enforced by the government or a private institution.
The idea of affirmative action was first introduced on March 6, 1961. President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which included a provision that government contractors take “affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and employees are treated equally during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin”. This was the first time the actual word affirmative action is used. In 1965, President Johnson issued Executive Order 11246 requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to ensure equality of employment opportunity without regard to race, religion and national origin. In 1968, gender was added to the protected categories.
An employer or a public educational institution must have an affirmative action plan (AAP) in order to address and eliminate discrimination. “For example, a public university's AAP might include policies used during the admission process. An employer's AAP would set forth guidelines for hiring and promoting members of minority groups, including women, to address and correct any past employment practices that were discriminatory. Many banks are required to implement AAPs. Employers who have entered into contracts to do business with the federal government must also develop AAPs (Affirmative Action 1)”. This tends to narrow affirmative action to dealing with public universities and businesses most often.
CONS
Affirmative action can lead to reverse discrimination. Basically, a white man and an African apply for the same job with the same credentials, but because of affirmative action the African man will receive... [continues]
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