Affirmative Action: Overview
A reflection on the society depicts the fact that it is composed of individuals with varying differences aligned with gender, race, socio-economic status, and education levels. While it is true that all people should be equal irrespective of these factors, there is a need to note that there exist a persistent discrimination of various people. Affirmative action has often been poised as the most comprehensive means through which equality can be attained. While much has been hypothesized regarding affirmative action, it is of the essence to note that it mainly connotes to actions and policies that are intended to ensure equality for all people regardless of the differences they exhibit (Bridges 73). Affirmative action is established with the sole intent of assuring equal opportunities for all. From this analysis, it can be deduced that the scope of affirmative action is to assure equality between minority and majority groups.
There are various strategies that are often utilized to enhance the affirmative action. Control of biases in the employment sector occurs as one of these strategies. This strategy mainly encompasses a careful selection of recruits to ensure that minority groups are selected (Appiah 272). In the education sector, certain programs occur as adequate strategies that enhance the affirmative action. As an example, certain colleges have exchange programs whereby a higher percentage of students involved in these programs are drawn minority backgrounds. On another note, lawsuits against discriminatory policies and actions provide other means through which affirmative action can be guaranteed. An example of such lawsuits is one that was filed on 17th November 2014 challenging admission procedures employed by University of California and Harvard University.
The quest for equality advocated by affirmative action has generated a contentious debate emanating from varying opinion as to whether calls for affirmative action should be based on class or race. Based on a personal thought, affirmative action would be more beneficial if it based on class and not race. Class-based affirmative action offers a comprehensive platform that assures an enhancement in the representation of the minorities. Class-based affirmative action favors individuals from low-income backgrounds, which ends up favoring the minority groups (Berry & Bonilla-Silva 237). An analysis of racial minority groups points to the fact that they have lower economic statuses. Therefore, class-based affirmative action caters for low-income groups who mainly comprise of the racial minority groups. Overall, class-based affirmative action is recommendable because it caters for both racial and class-based inequalities.
Besides, class-based affirmative action is recommendable because they provide an ample platform where diversity can thrive. Class-based affirmative action ensures that low-income, middle-income, and high-income populations are represented regardless of their gender and race. Class-based affirmative cuts across and considers individuals of all income capabilities (Garrison-Wade & Lewis 24). As a result, it ensures that all groups are represented, which ensures diversity. Overall, well-defined socio-economic policies aligned with affirmative action are likely to lead to the realization of greater levels of minority representation. With regards to college and university admissions, existing evidence indicate that class-based admission procedures increase the admission rates of underrepresented minority groups and low-income students.
In conclusion, race-based affirmative action elicits discrimination against the majority groups, especially the whites. This is contrary to class-based affirmative action that caters for all racial groups of various income backgrounds, especially those from low-income backgrounds. Conclusively, economic status offers a justified proxy through which equality amongst all races can be guaranteed.
Work Cited
Appiah, Kwame. “Group Rights and Racial Affirmative Action. Journal of Ethics 15.3 (2015): 265-280. Print.
Berry, Brent & Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo. “They Should Hire the One with the Best Score: White Sensitivity to Qualification Differences in Affirmative Action Hiring Decisions.” Ethnic & Racial Studies 31.2 (2008): 215-242. Print.
Bridges, Khiara. “Class-based Affirmative Action, or the Lies that we tell about the Insignificance of Race.” Boston University Law Review 96.1 (2016):55-108. Print.
Garrison-Wade, Dorothy & Lewis, Chance. “Affirmative Action: History and Analysis.” Journal of College Admission 184 (2004): 23-26. Print.
