Affirmative Action in Society - Essay Example

Affirmative Action Based on the evidence presented by this presentation, it is evident that affirmative action has remained a controversial issue that divides opinion in two sides with one side vehemently opposed to affirmative action while proponents support affirmative action with vigor. In line with this, this presentation defined affirmative action following two perspectives. In the first perspective, the presentation defined affirmative action as positive actions that a society takes in order to improve the representation of women in employment, business, and in education institutions. In this regard, this approach focuses on gender, and more so on women’s representation since history has proved that women remain behind with regard to education, business, and employment opportunities. As such, affirmative action will enhance their participation and make it equal participation of men in these key areas of the economy. On the other hand, the presentation defines affirmative action as positive approaches taken to increase the representation and the participation of minorities in areas of education, employment, and business. In this case, the minorities include races and ethnic groups that are a minority compared to the major ethnic or race in a region, state, or country (Fullinwider). It is evident that these steps and approaches towards ensuring representation and participation of women and minorities involve preferential selection based on gender, race, or ethnicity. For this reason, the preferential selection of one gender, a race, or along ethnic lines is bound to generate intense controversy since the left out race, ethnic group, or gender considers itself discriminated. Nonetheless, despite the controversy that affirmative generates, it is evident that affirmative action has encouraged the participation of women and minorities in education, employment, and business. For this reason, affirmative action is a progressive step towards ensuring that institutions and businesses incorporated approaches that enhanced the participation and representation of minorities and women. Before looking at the reasons that make the practice of less affirmative action good, it is important to highlight the reasons why a number of people oppose the practice of affirmative action regardless of perspective in the approach taken. First, opponents of affirmative action in schools and other education institutions indicate the failure to implement effective structures while admitting students in elite schools. In effect, many Hispanic and Black students admitted to elite schools, through affirmative action, end up changing their majors, obtaining unsatisfactory grades, switching to easier majors, or even dropping out of school altogether. In effect, opponents indicate that affirmative action denied a qualified student this position while giving the position to someone else, who drops out, switches to another major, and obtains substandard grades. However, the lack of preparation structures to ensure that these Black and Hispanic students were equipped with the essential skills required to join and succeed in elite schools resulted to these consequences. On the other hand, opponents argue that preferential selection of a particular gender, race, and ethnic group to occupy positions in the workplace is akin to discrimination, which is against the principles provided for by the constitution on equity. Despite the opponents’ views about affirmative action, the benefits of affirmative action remain greater than the disadvantages that the opponents of the practice use to highlight their opposition. First, it is evident that affirmative action helps individuals learn about other cultures and beliefs in order to understand the behavior of a group. In this case, affirmative action helps people appreciate the role played by diversity after people interact with other people who were different from them. In addition, it is evident that affirmative action helps enhance the integration of a gender, race, or ethnic grouping in a setting. In this regard, integration helps people to think broadly and inclusively, which ensures that people benefited by learning to think broadly and hence gain something valuable. In this case, this would be different in instances whereby institutions failed to practice affirmative action. In support of affirmative action, it is evident that the integration process helps enhance multicultural exchanges between two groups. In effect, the multicultural exchanges helps reawaken a form of moral and civil courage together with helping individuals think in a logical manner rather than acting upon emotions. In fact, this integration is crucial in helping the country’s efforts towards mitigating interracial conflicts since integration helps people realize that there were no underlying differences between people despite their gender, race, and ethnic backgrounds. On the other hand, the integration process is inclusive in the sense that the minority group does not feel discriminated against by the society. Hence, women will feel that their rights were respected while minorities recognize that the society considered them as an integral part without whom the society would be incomplete. Affirmative action provides people from unfortunate backgrounds with the chance for a better future. In this regard, gifted students from poor backgrounds obtain the chance of learning in elite schools whose education models enhance the prospects of a prosperous future. In line with this, these students will occupy national and international roles in governments, professions, arts, politics, and sciences. In effect, the taking up of these positions by these gifted students from unfortunate backgrounds enhances the development of a strong society that had a racially and ethnically broader leadership within its ranks. Following this perspective, it is evident that affirmative action helps provide a chance for equal opportunities to diverse groups. Despite the cost of implementing affirmative action being high, or perhaps too high, it is important for education institutions, businesses, and other institutions to ensure that they implemented some form of affirmative action within their operational structures. This way, these institutions will enhance the integration process of minorities into a segment of the society. In effect, the integration of these minorities will help people broaden their thinking and engage in logical and expansive thinking as guided by reason instead of acting out of emotions. On the other hand, affirmative action provides the society with a chance to experience diverse leadership. Importantly, affirmative action provides equal opportunities to all citizens while ensuring that minorities and women did not feel any form of discrimination towards them from their society. Work Cited Fullinwider, Robert. “Affirmative Action.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edward N. Zalta (ed.). (Winter 2011 Edition). Web. 24 Nov. 2012. . Read More