Term paper on Affirmative Action

Free Affirmative Action papers

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Considering the subject of affirmative action the following questions frequently are raised: Is there a clear understanding of affirmative action roles/goals? What are the pros/cons of these programs? What are the "loop holes" in the system? Does seniority play a role in affirmative action? Addressi

Abortion Crtical Analysis
Ellen Willis has written this article based on personal views, opinions and experiences. She openly expresses that the issue of abortion is a woman’s issue and should therefore be discussed with the woman in mind. She accepts the fact that others consider abortion to be a life issue and understand

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

INTRODUCTION

This paper was written to show how Affirmative Action took place. It deals with the idea that diversity management does not decrease ethnic and gender tensions while increasing profits, productivity and creativity, but it has served a general purpose to aware people of different cultures, and establish a justification to make everybody equal in opportunity not based in race, sex, nor culture.

It also includes a history of the Affirmative Action. The different paths it has taken along the development it has undergone as time has gone by, from its beginning as a Civil Rights Act to the Affirmative Action it is today.

Statement of Purpose

The three members of the group are members of minorities and the purpose is to acquaint other minorities with what could be encountered in finding a job.

Scope

This paper contains arguments that stand for and against Affirmative Action programs with cases to substantiate the claims. It also contains a history of the Affirmative Action and its original purpose.

Sources and Methods

The material needed for this paper was gathered from several on-line resources and a book. Such sources were gathered by searching the Internet and the School’s Library.

Report Organization

The paper starts by giving the reader the original purpose of the affirmative Action and its history. Then, it states several pros and several cons supporting each with a case. At the end of the paper a summary of the same is given together with the conclusions formed by the writers of the paper.

WHAT IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?

Affirmative Action is the name given to programs that try to correct past and ongoing discriminations against women, racial minorities, and others in the work force and in education. The principal goal of Affirmative Action is to create more diversity and equal opportunities in jobs or schools that used to be all or mostly male, white, or both. Affirmative Action programs have been in place only a little over thirty years throughout Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. There are three aspects of Affirmative Action.

One, Affirmative Action in employment. It can consist of posting and publicizing job notices in locations that are likely to be seen by a wide rang e of people so that not only white people, but also minorities can see that there are job opportunities that they can apply to (Casul, 1).

Two, Affirmative Action in contracting. This consists of highly regulated government agencies that help minorities to get jobs without haven to go through discrimination because of their background (Casul, 1).

Three, Affirmative Action in education. This consists of various programs that schools have to be able to provide minorities with the equal opportunity of an education (Casul, 1).

THE HISTORY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Affirmative Action was started in 1965 with the Executive order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. He stated that something else had to be done to move beyond the non-discrimination laws that were already enacted. At the same time something had to be done to enable women and minorities to move up in their jobs. After President Johnson, President Nixon implemented that same Executive order. With this done President Ford, a few years later the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974. This acts assured that federal contractors had Affirmative Action regulations in hiring or firing employees. Again, some years later President Carter created a centralized office to handle all Affirmative Action cases named the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Now, during his presidency, President Clinton has articulated four standards for all Affirmative Action programs: no quotas in theory or practice, no illegal discrimination of any kind, no preferences for people not qualified, and as soon as the program has succeeded it must be retired.

THE CASE FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Since the day that thanks to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 African-American civilians were able to attend school with everybody else; since the day that there was no difference between a “white water fountain” and a “black water fountain”, the achievements reached with the help of an Affirmative Action are evident. Affirmative Action has caused a debate and some tension to rise in the American society (Lewis, 1). The paragraphs that follow will be intended to show to the reader that an Affirmative Action can indeed help the business environment in getting the most qualified people the job they deserve, without their race, culture or sex prevent them from getting it.

Arguments For Affirmative Action

Since the day that Affirmative Action programs started to take place, minorities have been able to be treated fairly and have been able to get job opportunities also. The next few paragraphs state several arguments that point to the conclusion that an Affirmative Action is needed to provide fairness in every aspect to minorities.

The programs are needed because there are still cases in which minorities and women earn less money than white people and men regardless of the place they studied and got their degrees from. They still earn less money regardless of the qualifications and past experience they might have, to prove this look at any community. How many members of a minority are in leadership positions? How many members of a minority are elected into office? Affirmative Action programs are created to provide minorities with the opportunity to be chosen in better jobs.

Affirmative Action programs are needed as a tool that the Federal government has to provide minorities with the opportunity to be treated equally (LCCP, 4). These programs are needed because some institutions in society are not ready to hire minorities just because they are minorities unless they are forced to do so by law. As long as this is so Affirmative Action programs should be preserved and improved (Rothstein, 1).

THE CASE AGAINST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

As time has gone by, and as discrimination has been legally reduced to the point that it is easier tolerate with the help of several Affirmative Action programs, the idea that such programs are not needed anymore is rising. Together with the question of Affirmative Action being needed or not debate has been rising too. Just as there are arguments that protect Affirmative Action, there are arguments that reject it. The following paragraphs will show the reader that an Affirmative Action is not needed anymore because of the way society is handling such problem.

Arguments Against Affirmative Action

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