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... treatment, we have just created a double standard. In businesses, people are being hired on the bases of their race rather than on how qualified they are for the job. Businesses are being forced to reach a certain quota and the person most qualified may end up jobless due to reverse discrimination (Thomas 2003). Also, the businesses are being hurt because they aren't hiring the most successful applicant, which could be harmful to the company. Also, in higher education programs, like in the case of Bakke discussed earlier, schools are admitting students based on their race rather than how educated they are.
They also need to obtain a quota and do so by lowering the standards for minorities. One issue opponents argue is that although we have made it easier for minorities and women to be more successful in our society, we have created a double standard because whites are facing unequal treatment just as minorities and women did in the past (Gross 1977). Further, another issue they argues is that affirmative action has actually hurt minorities because there is a stigma behind it. Whether a minority is hired because they are qualified or not, others will believe they were hired because of Affirmative action.
They will never receive the credit they deserve if they were hired because they were qualified. Instead, they will always have a stigma attached to them. However, a study was conducted which showed clear evidence that whites still receive benefits and still receive more advantages in our society than minorities and women do. The study was on whether " the effects of gender, ethnicity, education, family characteristics, geographic residence over time on economic attainment" (Dietz 2001) There is a significant relationship between being a minority and how much income one receives. Depending on your age, gender, race and where you live can play a major role in your income. " White males compose only about 30 % of the total population" and " they continue to hold 75 % of the highest earning occupations." As one can see, it clearly shows that white males receive an advantage. Minorities and women receive less income and they continue to experience discrimination, especially in employment (Alexander 1999).
Further, minorities are more likely to be in poverty. They are likely to use welfare services than are dominant whites. As author Kurt Jacobson and Alba Alexander stated, "Some ten million blacks live in poverty: 31 % overall, and nearly half of all black children" (Alexander 1999). Many minorities are stuck and need the guidance from the government, yet minorities continue to be discriminated against in America.
In order to stop the cycle of poverty, the society needs to be aware that America is a diverse society and everyone deserves equal treatment. Women have experienced greater advantages since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as the Women's Rights Movement. They have made their way into the workforce, in receiving an education and making a living for themselves and their family. They do not rely on the males as much as they did in the past. Although they do obtain the jobs, men have and continue to receive more income. Women are discriminated against due to the fact that they are women.
They are not judged on how well they can do the job or whether they are the best one suited for the job. Further, minorities have been subjected to the same treatment. In 1999, Make found " that black men are generally not promoted as quickly as white male" (Alexander 1999). In regards to minorities who have an educational background, they still receive less income. Further, this study did find an increase for minorities and women since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They have attained more achievements in education due to affirmative action, which helped protect them from discrimination.
They have made progress in our society. However, even though there have been improvements for minorities and women, the dominant white male population still continues to do better in our society. They receive more benefits and are still looked upon as the dominant group. They continue to obtain higher incomes not solely because of their educational background but also because they are white. "Furthermore, these data reveal that arguments that affirmative Action and equal opportunity have created a new trend in business toward "reverse discrimination" against white men are not substantiated" (Dietz 2001). Today affirmative action still raises a lot of concern between the different ethnic groups in America. People believe that it has benefited our society while some believe it still causes students and companies some disadvantages based on their racial background.
In our society, we have faced discrimination since the beginning of time. We have progressed and changed since then and will continue to change as time passes by. Advanced employment and educational opportunities were difficult for minorities and women to obtain in the past. Today, past efforts and changes in laws has made the United States more unified than it ever was. As discussed in class, when immigrant's first came over, they were subject to hostility by the dominant group. As time went by, they began to assimilate and eventually weren't as noticeable to the dominant groups.
Change isn't easy for anyone and it takes time to become accustomed to it. The immigrants suffered harsh discrimination when they first came to America as did minorities before The Civil Rights Act was enacted. And they continued being discriminated against after it was enacted. People have become accustomed to minorities having more opportunity in education and employment.
It is more accepted today than in the past. In conclusion, affirmative action has progressed since it was first brought to order in 1961. America has seen a significant change in the United States. Minorities have experienced discrimination throughout the past but they have ended up gaining more opportunity in our society. There are people who advocate for affirmative action as well as those who are against it. There have been major benefits for women and minorities due to affirmative action.
Furthermore, how much someone earns is usually based on their ethnic background and their gender. Affirmative action has caused controversy and will continue to cause it for years to come. Works cities Alexander, A. & Jacobson K. (1999). Affirmative Action. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research: A Critical Reconnaissance, 23 (3) 9 p Altschiller d. (1991).
The reference shelf: Affirmative Action. New York: The H. W. Wilson Company Dietz, T. (2001).
Sociological Spectrum. The unrelenting significance of minority statuses: gender, ethnicity, and economic attainment since affirmative action. 21 (1) 20 p Friedl, J. (1999). Change. Documentation of how affirmative action benefits all students, 31 (4) 6 p Gross B. (1977). Reverse Discrimination. New York: Prometheus Books.
Parrillo, V. (2003). Strangers to these shores. Boston: The Book Company Simmons, R. (1982). Affirmative Action: Conflict and Change in Higher Education after Bakke. Cambridge, Massachusetts. Thomas, W.
Review of Black Political Economy. Mitigating Barriers to Black Employment through Affirmative Action Regulations: a case study. 27 (3) 22 p
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