APA RESEARCH PAPER

Future of affirmative action

Future of affirmative action

Thesis Statement

Just as with many phrases, affirmative action can mean different things to different people. Not only do we find a difference in definition, but we find a difference among people in how they view it. Perhaps an individual's view of affirmative action is sometimes affected by how it personally affects that person or someone close to that person. It is understandable that if one is personally helped by its presence, a person might be inclined to be in favor of it. Of course, if one believes that affirmative action should be used because it is better for society to provide opportunities for those who have not had them in the past, such an individual might also be in favor of it. On the other hand, if one has been personally deprived of an opportunity because of its implementation, this person may not be in favor of it. In addition, if a person believes affirmative action is not necessary today in our society, there might be opposition to it. Obviously, there are a host of other reasons for being in favor of it or being against it.

Introduction

Affirmative action is a term that refers to institutional programs or policies designed to create equal opportunities for women and racial minorities in areas where they have traditionally been denied access. Although the term itself is relatively new, the idea behind the intent of the concept is not. For much of U.S. history, women and minorities were relegated to second-hand citizenship and treated as inferior beings in comparison with White men. They were denied access to employment, educational, political, and even social opportunities that were typically held by and reserved for White men. Even though much has changed during the past 50 or so years, affirmative action continues to draw major debates as to its usefulness during the post-civil rights era. This entry describes the historic context of discrimination, the advent of affirmative action, and the more recent retreat from these advances(Lynch, 1991).

Body: Discussion and Analysis

Affirmative Action IS the term used for an American legal and political policy that was created in 1961 when, through Executive Order 10925, John E Kennedy established a Committee on Equal Employment Opportunities. This was the first important step on the road to more extensive Affirmative Action directives that came after the 1964 Civil Rights Act. President Lyndon Johnson's 1965 Executive Order 11246 strengthened the federal approach that was further enhanced in 1967 to include gender discrimination. The rationale that justified the Affirmative Action drive was the elimination of historic employment discrimination. It was believed that a fairness doctrine would reverse past grievances and correct them through favorable hiring, recruitment, and admissions policies. Affirmative Action required the application of positive interventions to end discrimination, and therefore increase the representation of minorities and women in all areas, public and private. This would later include education, state and private employment, and business. Its necessity was dictated by a past that saw ...