Definition. A set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants , remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future. Applicants may be seeking admission to an educational program or looking for professional employment.
What is affirmative action in simple terms?
What Is Affirmative Action? The term affirmative action refers to a policy aimed at increasing workplace or educational opportunities for underrepresented parts of society . These programs are commonly implemented by businesses and governments by taking individuals’ race, sex, religion, or national origin into account.
What exactly does affirmative action do?
Affirmative action seeks to overturn historical trends of discrimination against an individual’s identity . It provides assistance to groups that have historically been and continue to be subjected to forms of discrimination.
What is affirmative action and why is it important?
Put simply, affirmative action ensures colleges and universities provide opportunity to those historically shut out of the system because of their race, ethnicity, income, or identity.
How was affirmative action created?
While the concept of affirmative action has existed in America since the 19th century, it first appeared in its current form in President Kennedy’s Executive Order 10925 (1961): “The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without ...
Who qualifies for affirmative action?
For federal contractors and subcontractors, affirmative action must be taken by covered employers to recruit and advance qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans . Affirmative actions include training programs, outreach efforts, and other positive steps.
What are the negative effects of affirmative action?
The harms of affirmative action are clear. Academic mismatch perpetuates low grades and high dropout rates for minority students who need a racial preference to gain admission . Basing admissions on race rather than merit also contributes to the dearth of minorities in STEM fields.
What are the different types of affirmative action?
The actual programs that come under the general heading of affirmative action are a diverse lot; they include policies affecting college and university admissions, private-sector employment, government contracting, disbursement of scholarships and grants, legislative districting, and jury selection .
How did affirmative action affect civil rights?
The federal government began to institute affirmative action policies under the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and an executive order in 1965. Businesses receiving federal funds were prohibited from using aptitude tests and other criteria that tended to discriminate against African Americans.
How does affirmative action affect society?
The idea behind Affirmative Action requirements is that, by promoting interactions across people of different groups, stereotypes against minority groups will decrease , and thus, in the long run, so will discrimination.
Is it illegal to hire based on race?
It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a job applicant because of his or her race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
What do you mean by positive discrimination?
Let’s dive right in: positive discrimination in the workforce is the act of favouring someone based on a “protected characteristic” . This could be: Hiring someone with a disability in order to fulfill a quota. Promoting a specific number of people, simply because they share a protected characteristic.
What are the basic elements of an affirmative action plan?
- AAP Planning Process and Technology. ...
- Good Faith Efforts. ...
- Employee Awareness Training. ...
- Adverse Impact Analysis.
What companies are required to have an affirmative action plan?
While all employers should be mindful of EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) laws, the only companies that are required to have a written, up-to-date AAP in place are federal contractors or subcontractors who have fifty or more employees AND: A contract of $50,000 or more.
Why is affirmative action important in the workplace?
Businesses implement affirmative action programs to ensure that people from groups that have been historically discriminated against or overlooked have equal opportunity —and are not underrepresented—in their workplaces.
What are affirmative action plans?
An Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) is a tool, a written program in which an employer details the steps it has taken and will take to ensure the right of all persons to advance on the basis of merit and ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran’s ...
