Abstract
Discrimination has always been an issue. Even in the XXI century, when the rights of all nations over the world have been recognized, instances of discrimination occur insultingly often (Price, 1965). Among the possible means of fighting discrimination, especially in the workplace and the field of education, affirmative action has been suggested (Soni, 1999). However, due to the controversy of affirmative action, its efficacy has been doubted several times (Shen et al., 2009). As long as affirmative action is used to grant all people equal opportunities, and not as a means to discriminate against a specific social or ethnic group, it can be considered acceptable (Barragan, Mills, & Runte, 2010/2011).
Introduction
Affirmative action is a measure that is aimed at leveling the opportunities of all those concerned. Affirmative action presupposes that a group of people who have a comparatively low chance of being promoted to a higher position should have more privileges than those who are more fortunate. Often viewed as “positive discrimination,” affirmative action, therefore, bears a tangible element of controversy. Despite the controversy of affirmative action, it allows for preserving the cultures that are under the threat of extinction, which partially justifies the fact that affirmative action creates grounds for the discrimination of other nations. Therefore, affirmative action must be used, though with great caution, to offer equal opportunities for every single citizen.
Against Affirmative Action
The concerns of the people who are strictly against the concept of affirmative action are quite understood. Being a measure that involves the negligence of other nations’ cultures for the sake of a specific goal, affirmative action is a rather questionable concept (Soni, 1999). It can also be assumed that the progress following affirmative action will be slackened by bureaucracy. It takes considerable time to introduce equity into society. As Soni stresses, theoretical and practical concepts of equity rarely cross: “In practice, social equity principle implies that different needs and interests of different people may sometimes result in differential treatment” (Soni, 1999, 577).
In Favor of Affirmative Action
However, affirmative action can also be considered as an attempt to provide equal rights to everyone (Price, 1995). Despite years of fighting for the rights of ethnic, national, and sexual minorities, women and children, discrimination still exists on various levels (Price, 1995). With the help of affirmative action, one can make sure that the aforementioned groups of people could enjoy the same range of opportunities that the rest of people do. Affirmative action can prevent the dominant part of society from shunning the people belonging to the minority and, thus, establish equality within society (Price, 1995).
Discussion: Pros and Cons
To solve the given problem, one must admit that in the fight for equality, there will always be the party that will be left out, while the interests of another party are being pursued. Equality as a concept can and must be introduced into modern society; moreover, it must be strived for and fought for. However, people must also understand that the principle of equality can be used only with the nations that also have equal chances and opportunities (Shen et al., 2009); otherwise, those nations that face difficulties must be given a chance to. At some points, some people deserve a more careful attitude than the rest of the parties involved. The given measure must not be considered as a sign of disrespect towards the rest of those concerned; on the contrary, it should be viewed as a reasonable compromise and an attempt to create equal opportunities for the representatives of the nationalities that have fewer chances for successful social performance (Barragan, Mills & Runte, 2010/2011).
Conclusion
It is necessary to admit that affirmative action as a phenomenon is very controversial (Soni, 1999). Even though affirmative action might be viewed as an inappropriate measure that can hurt the feelings of people belonging to other cultures, it should be carried out when the need arises. Although it might be viewed as offensive by the representatives of other nations, affirmative action, when conducted for the greater good, can and must be justified.
Reference List
Barragan, S., Mills, A. & Runte, M. (2010/2011). The Mexican glass ceiling and the construction of equal opportunities: Narratives of women managers. Journal of Workplace Rights, 15(3/4), 255–277.
Price, W. S. (1965). The affirmative action concept of equal employment opportunity. Labor Law Journal, 16(10), 603–619.
Shen, J. et al. (2009). Managing diversity through human resource management: An international perspective and conceptual framework. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(2), 235–251.
Soni, V. (1999). Morality vs. mandate: Affirmative action in employment. Public Personnel Management, 28(4), 577–594.