The thesis begins with a critical investigation of the meaning of affirmative action, followed by an analysis of. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following. Affirmative action should not be a once off action, but organisations should create a working environment conducive to learning and growth competent or potentially competent. The definition of affirmative action the history of the eeoc the role of the eeoc in affirmative action opportunities the evolution of affirmative action policy and eeocs enforcement skills practiced. Affirmative action is intended to promote the opportunities of defined minority groups within a society to give them equal access to that of the majority.
In the united states, affirmative action refers to equal opportunity employment measures that federal contractors and subcontractors such as public universities and government agencies are legally required to adopt. A policy or a program that seeks to redress past discrimination through active measures to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment. It is used to present the guidelines, procedures, protocols, and regulations that should be followed by the business so that they can make sure that nondiscrimination is executed accordingly in all areas of. The removal of artificial barriers to the employment of women and disadvantaged minorities, or admission of same to highly selective institutions of higher learning.
Information and translations of affirmative action in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. One ranking ofccp administrator defended the program even more sharply by saying,affirmative action is not about goals and has nothing to do with preferences. Affirmative action is a term used in the usa to depict a set of laws, policies, guidelines, and governmentmandated and governmentsanctioned administrative practices, including those of private institutions, intended to end and correct the effects of a specific form of discrimination. What affirmative action does mean is that positive steps must be taken to provide equal employment opportunity eeoc, u. Affirmative definition is asserting that the fact is so. It seeks to end the effects of discriminatory practices that violate the inherent equality of persons who. Summary of an affirmative action plan what is affirmative.
An affirmative action program includes procedures designed to increase the numbers of minorities, women and handicapped at all levels and in all segments of the work force where imbalances exist. Affirmative action is a policy in which an individuals color, race, sex, religion or national origin are taken into account by a business or the government in order to increase the opportunities. If a government or an organization takes affirmative action, it gives preference to women, black. Affirmative action refers to the methods used to try and acheive employment equity. By initiatives like these, the government plans to increase opportunities provided to underprivileged citizens. Of these, less than a dozen offered anything that could be coded as a definition. Affirmative action refers to a set of practices undertaken by employers, university admissions offices, and government agencies to go beyond nondiscrimination, with the goal of actively improving the economic status of minorities and women with regard to employment, education, and business ownership and growth. Affirmative action legal definition of affirmative action. Executive order 10925 issued in 1961 introduced the phrase.
Once this definition is delineated and the different types of discrimination are outlined, it. Affirmative action definition of affirmative action by. Affirmative action definition, the encouragement of increased representation of women and minoritygroup members, especially in employment. Definition of affirmative action in the dictionary.
Affirmative action, both for its intended beneficiaries and for society more broadly. Understanding affirmative action diversity university of california. For the past two decades affirmative action has been the. Thus, an examination of affirmative action must look at discrimination from all sides, in the third dimension. In south africa, these groups are black people including black, coloured and indian people, women and people with disabilities. Affirmative action definition in the cambridge english. Mit complies with all federal and state laws and regulations concerning 7. Affirmative action definition is an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women. Affirmative action definition of affirmative action at.
Law as we approach the new century, the nation is at a critical juncture with respect to race relations and the law. To increase, through targeted recruitment, the utilization of minorities, women and persons with disabilities in job. Sample affirmative action program aap the following sample aap is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the only styles and formats that meet regulatory requirements. Affirmative action is a controversial and often poorly understood policy. Affirmative action is a policy initiative in which a persons nationality, sex, religion, and caste are taken into account by a company or a government organisation to extend employment or education opportunities. Therefore, the position i am taking is that affirmative action is ethically and morally good. If affirmative action in upward mobility meant that no persons competence and character would ever be overlooked or undervalued on account of race, sex, ethnicity, origins, or physical. Pro and antiaffirmative action proponents remain passionate in their convictions, and the very existence of racial differences creates tensions not necessarily conflict under the best of conditions. Owing to the inequalities of the past, many people were denied equal opportunities to acquire competencies or formal qualfici ations. Affirmative action began as a government remedy to the effects of longstanding discrimination against such groups and has consisted of policies, programs. Affirmative action was extended to women by executive order 175 which amended executive order 11246 on october 1967, by adding sex to the list of protected categories.
Commission on civil rights,office of the general counsel. It is an attempt to redress the imbalances caused by our history of colonialism and apartheid, and ensure that all people have equal employment opportunities and are equitably represented in all categories and levels of employment. Affirmative action is the policy of making sure that people such as women, members of smaller racial groups, and people with disabilities get a fair share of the opportunities available. Affirmative action to promote equity and proportional representation in the public sector is discussed, along with a summary of the main criticisms of affirmative action, including claims about. It makes sure that qualified people from designated groups have equal opportunities in the workplace. 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. This study sought to find out if affirmative action is necessary in botswana given the fact that various groups of people are being discriminated against in various ways. Affirmative action is a policy in which an individuals color, race, sex, religion or national origin are taken into account to increase opportunities provided to an underrepresented part of society. Affirmative action is a program of positive action, undertaken with conviction and effort to overcome the present effects of past practices, policies, or barriers to equal employment opportunity and to achieve the full and fair participation of women, minorities and individuals with disabilities found to be underutilized in the workforce based on availability. The history of affirmative action is controversial and complex. The purpose of this paper is to argue that affirmative action is not reverse discrimination, but simply a policy to contribute to diversity in the workforce as a matter of distributive justice to the diverse groups in society. Employment opportunity eeo as law, allows for affirmative action as a means of remediation for past discrimination. Developing equal employment opportunity eeo policy statements, affirmative action programs and.
Scott suspected he didnt get the job, even when more than qualified, because of affirmative action policies which mandated that the company hire a certain number of minorities that year, a category he didnt fit into. These measures are intended to prevent discrimination against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of color, religion, sex, or national origin. Affirmative action in south africa repository home. Affirmative action, refers to a set of policies that support members of disadvantaged groups that. Affirmative definition of affirmative by merriamwebster. Affirmative action article about affirmative action by. This gives the information to be submitted after recruitment as a proof of following equal rights policy. The following pages will take a multifaceted approach to the affirmative action debate. It is also a policy that has been widely studied by social scientists.
Affirmative action is a way of making the workplace more representative and fair. The first goal will be to establish a working definition. Affirmative action aa affirmative action is a policy or practice set forth by an employer that aims to counter the effects of past and present discrimination in the employment context. Pdf the concept of affirmative action encompasses a broad range of voluntary and mandated. A closer look at the definition of affirmative action, as defined by the u.
The roots of affirmative action in employment lie in a set of executive orders issued by u. This has to be filled up providing details of the selected candidate and other applicants. Understanding affirmative action 589 ethnicity or race as equal in historical importance to other dimensions of diversity such as social class. Affirmative action recruitment report form in pdf format. This option is usually reserved for specific minority demographics that suffered discrimination in previous generations. Employment programs required by federal statutes and regulations designed to remedy discriminatory practices in hiring minority group members. While this sample has been constructed around a company with less than 150 employees, thereby allowing. Affirmative action, in the united states, an active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and for women. Affirmative action is the policy of making sure that people such as women, members of. Affirmative action began as a government remedy to the effects of longstanding discrimination against such groups and has consisted of policies, programs, and procedures that give preferences to minorities and women in job hiring.
1168 613 1030 619 634 531 81 1555 384 776 20 529 1270 1450 1518 492 824 764 538 194 680 255 1426 1319 246 195 189 719 15 782 1497 1441 97 1368 465 1408 1090