An Evaluation of the Affirmative Action Policy

Affirmative Action is a policy whose purpose is to improve the opportunities for and ethnic minorities, people from different national origins, and women who have faced discrimination in the past in areas of education and employment. Distributive justice theories such as utilitarianism, libertarianism, and Rawlsian can all be evaluated to show that they are in harmony with the ideas perpetuated by affirmative action. Utilitarianism in pursuit of the greatest good and happiness for all endorses affirmative actions because its goals align with the ideas of the theory. Libertarianism advocates that people are free to live in the manner they think will benefit them most. Affirmative action allows women the chance to have a career and raise families without being ill-treated for it. The Rawlsian theory is, however the one that most directly supports affirmative action which pursues more fairness in hiring practices.  John Rawl’s theory of justice posits that justice entails fair treatment for all and affirmative action does this proactively by reversing the effects of unfair treatment of women and minorities beyond putting in place a framework where unfairness cannot exist in society.

Equal Employment Opportunity Act is an extension of affirmative action which forbids discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, or gender in response to institutionalized covert and overt discrimination practices that have been historically prevalent. At the Federal level, equal opportunities laws have been in existence for almost half a century and yet women and minorities still face significant barriers in their pursuit of employment and education opportunities (Benokraitis & Feagin, 2019). Affirmative action is a countermeasure that tends to level the field for women and minority groups who, when considering the difficulties they’ve had to contend with are more than qualified to handle the responsibilities assigned them (Shaw, Barry, Muntean, Issa, Ilott & Catley, 2021). Rawlsian theory of ethics entails seeking out fairness. This view discounts the notions of proponents of reverse discrimination who argue that meritocracy is the most legitimate basis for employment and oppose affirmative action to be merely an effort to undermine this principle (Smelser, Wilson & Mitchell, 2001). Affirmative action at the moment is the most effective strategy to counter discriminatory practices against women and minorities that have historically been the norm with firms, institutions, and individual businesses exercising preferential hiring practices that favored white males.

Contrary to the opinion that Affirmative Action policies impend the dynamics of the free market, affirmative action helps create a more diversified workforce that is more versatile, capable of making better decisions which translates to improved productivity. In any organization, diversity enhances its ability to adapt improves the uniqueness and originality of ideas while increasing productivity through the creation of innovative solutions to the problems it encounters (Sharma, 2016). Women and people from minority backgrounds have all contributions to make that are afforded by the unique insights that arise from the variety of experience, knowledge, and perspective which varies across individuals and which only they can access (Shaw, et.al 2021). Affirmative action is in perfect harmony with principles of merit that govern both education and employment opportunities on which free-market dynamics are based and that provides an avenue through which qualified individuals who might be otherwise hampered by a history of discrimination are afforded opportunities to shine (Smelser, Wilson & Mitchell, 2001). Affirmative action promotes diversity which translates to positive economic outcomes for both individuals and society.

Society is being robbed of the input and insight of women and individuals with potential from minority groups as a result of discrimination in the hiring and employment process which necessitates the enactment of policies such as those promoted by affirmative action. Beyond positively increasing the representation of minorities and women in various social fields such as education, employment, and culture affirmative action seeks to redress wrongs and violations on these groups in a bid to fulfill justice (Shaw, et.al 2021). Under libertarianism women who face discrimination for taking off time to raise a family to have the freedom to act in their best interest without being victimized for it. The utilitarian theory of ethics endorses affirmative action because its central tenet is the pursuit of the greater good for society. By providing jobs for minorities and women besides white males results in increased happiness for the society which is the aim of Utilitarianism. Happiness and utmost good is the overarching principle behind this theory and affirmative action does this by increasing the chances for better economic and social outcomes for all and ultimately for the whole society. Opponents of affirmative action allude to the Jim Crow rules which restricted minorities and people of color and use the term ‘reverse discrimination to protest what they see as an infringement of the rights of white people (Stamarski & Hing, 2015). The controversy surrounding affirmative action can be analyzed through its effects on society and whether it is ethical or based on moral principles. Gender, racial and other forms of discrimination are saturated by controversial complexities that need to be delineated through critical thinking that is informed and supported by valid research.

Affirmative action is presently the most effective policy that strategically combats discrimination in the workplace and education settings and improves the effectiveness of non-discrimination laws within the country.  This policy is relevant in the country because systematized discrimination against minorities, women, and people from different national backgrounds who are legally in the United States is still prevalent creating the need to address the issue. Affirmative action also promotes diversity as a wider variety of people are integrated into the various organizations and firms in the country, this has the effect of making the country more resilient to challenges and more productive thus facilitating economic growth. Denying minorities, women, and others through discrimination is harmful to society and violates the moral values on which the country is founded, this contradicts the principles on which the American constitution is based; the equality of all and the liberty to lead prosperous lives. In conclusion, affirmative action can thus be said to be the most comprehensive effort in the history of the United States to combat discrimination and gender-based inequality in an attempt to solve the social problems that have been affecting the country since its inception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Benokraitis, N. V., & Feagin, J. R. (2019). The Impact of Affirmative Action in Industry. Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity: Action, Inaction, Reaction, 61-117. doi:10.4324/9780429047442-4

Sharma, A. (2016). Managing diversity and equality in the workplace. Cogent Business & Management, 3(1), 1212682. doi:10.1080/23311975.2016.1212682

Shaw, W. H., Barry, V. E., Muntean, D., Issa, T., Ilott, G., & Catley, B. (2021). Moral issues in business. South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Cengage Learning Australia.

Smelser, N. J., Wilson, W. J., & Mitchell, F. (2001). America Becoming Racial Trends and Their Consequences. Volume I. Place of publication not identified: Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse.

Smelser, N. J., Wilson, W. J., & Mitchell, F. (2001). America becoming: Racial trends and their consequences: Volume II. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Stamarski, C. S., & Hing, L. S. (2015). Gender inequalities in the workplace: The effects of organizational structures, processes, practices, and decision makers’ sexism. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01400