Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify what is affirmative action. The concept of affirmative action is to be explored along with the applicability of the concept in United States. With the increasingly diverse work environment with people form multiple ethnicities and backgrounds coming together to work with each other towards a common goal, affirmative action has become pronounced affirmative action is being called for when dealing with employment, decision making, consumer profiling as well as when a company invests in programs for the community with socially responsible citizenship schemes. The following paper highlights how affirmative action is being used in the aforementioned fields and what is the scope for business in the future in the light of affirmative actions.
Methodology
The methodology that has been employed for the purpose of this paper is to gather information about affirmative actions, and its application to various fields through an extensive search conducted using textbooks, reference journals, articles, and online news clippings. The news clippings have been specifically used to gather information about instances where affirmative action has been employed in the United States. The validity of the data collected has been ensured by using well known and reviewed reference books and articles from newspapers and online peer reviewed journals. Credible data from the United States department of Labor has also been gathered, all of which is analyzed in a qualitative and subjective manner
Analysis
Affirmative action is a term that refers to legal policies and procedures that are put in place and to encourage equal opportunity for all. “‘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” (‘Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’). Through affirmative action, the discrimination of race, gender,, and ethnicity are avoided when conducting activities pertaining to inducting people into healthcare programs, providing education and employment opportunities. The main objective of the affirmative action programs is to avoid any voluntary as well as involuntary discrimination based on race, gender and ethnicity. “Affirmative action, the set of public policies and initiatives designed to help eliminate past and present discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, is under attack.” (Sykes, 2009) However with time the popularity of affirmative action is going down as many consider it to be a government sanctioned form of discrimination that has been made legalized with increase in the diversity levels. The opposition claims that affirmative action tends to discriminate those who have worked hard I order to reward others simply based on their minority title.
The United States Department of Labor states that affirmative actions are supposed to be applied by federal contractors and subcontractors. Specially in the case of enrollment of pupils to universities and high school and the recruitment of candidates, affirmative action should be incorporated for minority groups, women as well as people with disabilities. The regulations that have been passed specific to affirmative action by the United States government include 41 CFR Part 60-2, 41 CFR Part 60-2 and 41 CFR Part 60-741. (United States Department of Labor) However popular opinion amongst the public is against the use of affirmative action as they state that with the increased diversity and the equal opportunity programs in place, affirmative action regulations are no longer required in today’s environment. “Polls indicate that many Americans perceive affirmative action policies to be synonymous with quotas, set-asides, and preferential treatment that benefit minorities and women at the expense of white males. Consequently, political leaders on the left and right are promising to revisit federal affirmative action policies. Some have expressed clear intentions to dismantle affirmative action policies; others have called for more study and review.” (Affirmative Action: Who Benefits?)
Findings
The affirmative action concept pertains to the policy actions taken by the government to eliminate the practice of discrimination against women, minority group, different raced, veterans as well as the disables when employing hiring and induction into healthcare or education programs. The policy is present to promote equal opportunity in them market and to avoid discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status as well as criminal history.
The supporters of the affirmative action policies are of the opinion that it maximizes the benefits for the society as a whole. America has a strong history of discrimination especially when it pertains to people with different ethnic origins and orientation. However the affirmation action program is seen by many as a positive step taken by the government to encourage diversity in the work place, and education institutions. “This racial tension argument is very similar to the stigma argument against affirmative action and can be dismissed along the same lines. Racial tension existed long before affirmative action, and to believe that these programs cause them lacks any sense of history. In fact, affirmative action may very well reduce racial tension, forcing people to interact together and work as a unit in a professional and intellectual level across racial lines.”(Lewis, 1998)
The analysis conducted has revealed that while initially the policy was set by the government for positive results, of late the affirmation action policy has been garnering negative popularity. However simultaneously the analysis has also depicted that there are many who oppose the policy as well. They term affirmative action as being a legalized form of discrimination where those with minority origins tend to be rewarded regardless to the effort that they put in while those who work hard are often looked over.
Conclusion
Affirmative action policies were initiated by the United States in order to encourage diversification and appreciation of the minority groups giving them representation. However with time the level of diversity in the education institutions and the workplace has increased, making the affirmative action policy somewhat redundant and discriminatory in it self.
Recommendations
The perception of the affirmative action policy and its application has gradually added to its unpopularity. While it is clear that the way it has been applied in the United States has promoted quota based discrimination, steps need to be taken to revise the policy updating it to the current market and environmental conditions.
A clause should be inducted into the affirmative action policy that does allows those with higher competence, skills and a better profile to attain the job or a position at an education institution over the affirmative action quota. Those who are inducted on the basis of the affirmative action quota should be carefully analyzed in terms of their profile and capabilities, providing them equal opportunity on the basis of their competencies instead of to simply fulfill a quota.
References
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2009, Web.
Kinicki, A., & Kreitner, R., (2008), Organizational Behavior (8th ed.), New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Sykes, M., (2009), The Origins of Affirmative Action, Web.
United States Department of Labor (n.d.), Hiring: Affirmative Action, 2009. Web.
Carr-Ruffino, N., (2006), Managing Diversity: People skills for a multicultural workplace (7th ed.), Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing
Affirmative Action: Who Benefits, APA Online, 2009. Web.
Lewis, B.C., (1998), An Ethical and Practical Defense of Affirmative Action, 2009. Web.