Affirmative action refers to policies and practices within a government or organization with the aim to uplift marginalized communities and in this article, we will be discussing the examples.
Affirmative action is for what is right and to correct past injustices to create a society where equity will flourish. It aims to increase how a group is presented based on their race, gender, nationality, or ethnicity.
In many societies today, there are groups that are underrepresented in leadership positions. Affirmative action focuses on demographics that are historically underrepresented in society and marginalized.
We will be discussing more about affirmative action examples.
What Is Affirmative Action?
Affirmative action refers to policies and practices within a government or organization with the aim to uplift marginalized communities. It’s for what is right and to correct past injustices to create a society where equity will flourish.
We have learned about how groups were marginalized in the 20th century. The Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists was a movement in the 1950s to late 1960s to abolish legal segregation.
This was a peaceful social movement and campaign for equity in an era where African-Americans were not marginalized but faced racial segregation.
“Affirmative action was initiated by the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson in order to provide more opportunities for African-Americans”.
The United States government started to institute affirmative action policies under the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and an executive order of 1965.
Federal-funded businesses were ordered not to use aptitude tests and other criteria designed to discriminate against African-Americans.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Affirmative Action
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission were responsible to monitor affirmative action programs.
Generally, the implementation and use of affirmative action policies have attracted some criticism and support.
Advantages
Affirmation action aims to provide more opportunities to people who are underrepresented in society. The opportunities it provides include access to good education and career opportunities for employees who have to struggle to acquire status.
Disadvantages
Many supporters claim that affirmative action addresses systemic inequalities, while some opponents call it a collective failure.
The perception of these opponents is quite different from a common understanding. To them, there is little or no bias that exists in today’s society. Their argument is based on the fact that affirmation action results in reverse discrimination.
They believe that affirmative action will overlook worthy candidates fit for positions of leadership and professional roles, in order to favour a less qualified individual just because it suits policy standards.
Examples of Affirmative Action
Let’s explore examples of affirmative action.
#1. Political Party Quotas
Across the world today you will find political parties that have put in place quotas of 50/50. The Australian Labor Party (ALP) for example have put in place quotas of 50/50 gender presentation in parliament.
Is an effort to ensure that women are well-represented in Australian politics. With these quotas, it means new pre-selection is exclusively for women.
#2. College Admission
Every group within a society deserves equal rights to education and not to be discriminated against because of their social background.
Colleges and universities in recent times have made an effort to provide an opportunity for people from minority groups. Many institutions will reserve a specific percentage of placements for marginalized groups in order to help them attend college.
Now this may reduce the number of placements for applicants with excellent academic records from an advantaged group. People from marginalized groups are given an opportunity, while those from advantaged groups with good profiles may struggle.
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#3. Quota Systems
Quota systems refer to a form of affirmative action that creates a percentage of people from disadvantaged groups that must be part of a program, institution, etc.
An example of the quota system is the reservation system in the Asia nation of India. The reservation system aims to uplift the castes of India, who are underrepresented in their homeland.
In accordance with the constitution, about 50% of the entire government’s higher education admissions can be reserved for OBC (other backward classes) and members of SC/ST (scheduled castes & scheduled tribes).
#4. Factor Consideration
In several countries around the world, affirmative action takes the form of factor consideration. Institutions will take into account the marginalized factor of race, gender, or nationality of an individual during admission.
The United States Supreme Court rules the quota will not be permitted in the 2003 Grutter vs. Bollinger case.
European countries on the other hand still allow institutions to consider marginalized groups during admission.
#5. Targeted Promotions
Several companies will review their employee’s profiles to find out if there is an overrepresentation of advantaged groups. Because of this, companies may decide to only open up internal promotions to individuals from marginalized groups.
#6. Special Training for Marginalized Groups
This is one of the examples of affirmative action that aims to provide special training for marginalized communities. The aim is to help people from marginalized communities acquire skills, knowledge, and experience.
For example, a company can decide to help a marginalized community by conducting a leadership development training program. It can also conduct such programs for women to help them acquire skills.
Acquiring a skill comes with an opportunity to get jobs. It also creates an opportunity for people to start their own businesses, teaching others the same skill to help build a better community.
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#7. Targeted Advertising Campaigns for Minorities
Many countries often use targeted advertising to motivate minority groups.
For example, minority groups that are underrepresented may be encouraged to join the police through special marketing campaigns. Targeted advertising campaigns for minorities is very popular in Europe.
They call it “positive action” and the suppose remains to create equal opportunity for everyone.
#8. Class-Based Policy in Israel
In the early 2000s, the top four universities in the country included a special affirmative action policy to help applicants.
The affirmation action policy was incorporated to focus on structural disadvantages. It focused on neighbourhood socioeconomic status and individual hardship.
Scholarships were offered to citizens with disabilities and Arabs by universities in the state.
#9. Relaxation of Selection Criteria
This describes a form of affirmative action that uses relaxed selection criteria for minority groups.
For Example, Greenlanders can attend college and earn a degree in Denmark without providing the required grade averages provided they satisfy certain criteria.
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#10. Affirmative Action in Canada
There are groups in Canada that receive preferential treatment in education and employment.
In Canada, people with disabilities, women, indigenous people, and visible minorities receive preferential treatment when they apply for jobs in federally-regulated industries.
Many colleges in the country also offer alternative admission criteria for applicants who are of Native American descent.
Conclusion
Affirmative action is for what is right and to correct past injustices to create a society where equity will flourish. It aims to increase how a group is presented based on their race, gender, nationality, or ethnicity.
It’s for what is right and to correct past injustices to create a society where equity will flourish.
We hope this article on examples of affirmative action was helpful.
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References
- Investopedia: What Is Affirmative Action? How It Works and Example
- HelpfulProfessor: 13 Affirmative Action Examples
- Britannica: affirmative action
- Smallbusinesses.chron: Examples of Affirmative Action in a Workplace
- Woman.thenest: Examples of Affirmative Action in a Workplace
- AH Goldman – Philosophy & Public Affairs, 1976 – JSTOR: Affirmative action
- DB Oppenheimer – Hastings Const. LQ, 1995: Understanding affirmative action
