Affirmative Action Research Paper
Affirmative action is a term used to describe federal initiatives that require people responsible for providing economic and educational opportunities to consider a candidate's race, sex, or disability, especially if the individual's minority affiliation has suffered past discrimination (Affirmative Action 1). These special considerations are seen as reparations, payments made to people by the government for past mistreatment (Mizell 169). The laws that established affirmative action were initially intended to abolish discrimination in the job market and education (Mizell 164-5). They were further elaborated upon when employers and educators were given the option to correct past discrimination by giving preference to minorities (Mizell 164-5). Affirmative action was established with the altruistic intent of providing equal opportunity in a racially unequal society whereby impartial judgment of ability is dissipating (Lewis). In the long run, affirmative action is expected to instill in society an ability to reconsider the validity and consistency of the qualifications deeming the integrity of educational and vocational opportunity (Lewis). Although affirmative action seemingly violates equal rights beliefs, it continues to b
President William Clinton supports affirmative action and its implications, as evident in his response to anti-affirmative action advocates, "...do they want a strict, if imperfect, meritocracy that will worsen segregation?" (Enda). The nation's president also states, "...I think our society has a vested interest in having people from diverse backgrounds" (Enda). For these stated reasons, affirmative action continues to be necessary for minorities to achieve equal opportunity in the work force, education, and society. If abolished, minorities would suffer in innumerable different aspects, as previously demonstrated. The problem of racial tension often views affirmative action as an element that has encouraged it and discouraged it. Many see affirmative action programs as weak, though it has been proven that they have lessened racial bias in the workplace and education (VanSlambrouk 3). Affirmative action advocates strongly feel that racial tension is actually caused by the bitterness of whites that deny minorities a sense of belonging in the workplace and education (Lewis). In reality, what affirmative action opposition ignores is the fact that racial tension existed centuries before the equal opportunity legislation was introduced (Lewis). Despite many people's beliefs, dominant racial groups are not significantly suffering because of affirmative action (VanSlambrouk 3). Actually, affirmative action can possibly reduce racial tension by forcing people of different origins and backgrounds to cooperate and work together on a professional and intellectual field (Lewis). A 1990 Roper Survey concluded, "the US population is not as prejudiced as it was in 1978" (Mizell 142). By considering neighborhood living conditions, housing opportunity, education, and jobs, the survey concluded that there is increased tolerance of minorities by whites, and both groups generally appear to be more content (Mizell 142). Jonathan Kozol's studies in Savage Inequalities discovered that public schools accommodating students of color in an urban setting, on the average, spend half as much as similar schools in suburbs for children with special needs (Hammond 28-32). Studies have shown that factors influencing student achievement include school size, class size, curriculum, and the qualification of teachers. Studies further indicate that minority students are less likely than white students to receive these resources. According to Oakes, a University of California-Los Angeles professor, and Orfield, a Harvard professor, in multi-racial schools minority students are often placed in lower level courses of larger class size, along with less qualified teachers and a lower quality curriculum. It has been concluded that differences in teacher qualification and class size are just as, if not more, influential than the influence of parents and family life (Hammond 28-32). Other's view that affirmative action gives minorities the opportunities to defy such negative stereotypes that have labeled them seemingly since the beginning of time (Lewis). The reinforcement of stereotypes can be avoided by hiring minority candidates that are promising toward success (Dudley 146). Opponents of affirmative action policies fail to recognize the preferential treatment given to athletes and legacy students through college admissions and the possible inferiority complexes addressed in that area (Lewis). The necessity of affirmative action is imperative because minority educational opportunities are scant in comparison to those offered to the white population. The United States is a competitive economy, and economic success is dependent on productivity (Dudley 142-3). Productivity is most commonly a result of knowledge, education, and upbringing (Dudley 142-3). Children primarily gain these qualities from parents (Dudley 142-3). Therefore, children with parents of poor income and limited education will be at a disadvantage (Dudley 142-3). Th
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Approximate Word count = 3297
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)
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