I understand the origins of Affirmative Action, but it has gone too far. Presently Affirmative Action begins for an individual far before the job hiring process. Really it first enters one's life when they begin applying for higher level education. Applying to college has now become a crapshoot because universities are choosing to accept minority or gender specific students with equal or lesser credentials over generic male majority students with equal or higher grades and skills. I like the idea behind affirmative action and the fact that it levels the playing field as well as increases diversity in job and education settings. However, this movement has gone too far. I was taught that the person who is best fit for the job would attain that job.
No longer is this the case. Companies feel pressure to fill certain quotas requested by clients and internally from HR and are leaning on AA hiring practices to meet these requirements. I am at a loss to understand why this is a neccissity and has become the norm in hiring practices across the US. If we take a step back and look at what is happening its reverse descrimination against white males. I wonder if in 50 years Affirmative Action will mean adding extra points to a college or job application grading scale for being a middle class white male?
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Hi this is Courtney Buckwalter and I really enjoyed your blog on AA. I can tell that you are very passionate about the subject and it is a concern for not only "middle class White males" but everybody! You could look at the companies filling their quotas in positions, but if we think about it...by owning "White Privilege" are we offered better opportunities, therefore making us more qualified than other canidates that may not have the same resources to attain those opportunities? Just something to think about!
Hi this is Sanela Grkovic and I found your blog to be very interesting. Shelby Steele is also a writer who has some of the same ideas that you have here is a link to one of his articles.. http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2006/09/shelby_steele_t.php. I really liked when you discussed how AA doesn't just start at the work level, but even earlier than that. I have read that it can start even sooner than looking into higher levels of education, it can start from kindergarten, and I say this because the education systems can cause people to be at a disadvantage from the very beginning if they live in poorer areas. But I thought you made some excellent points in how AA can lead to reverse discrimination.
Your reverse discrimination post was very interesting, may I suggest adding a few facts to strengthen your opinion on the negative affects of AA in universities. Here is a link with some information that might be helpful.
http://www.lexisnexis.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T4595420490&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T4595420493&cisb=22_T4595420492&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8176&docNo=3
Your blog is very interesting. I especially like the article link on the University of Maryland student. I agree that people should be chosen for jobs and educational benefits solely on their merits. As a minority, I still do not agree with AA practices. I would hate to think that I did not get a job or educational benefits on the basis of quotas and I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that these practices are in place.
Overall, I really enjoyed your points and keep up the great work!
- Joslyn
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