Do you believe that equal rights means special rights for some?

Question

It seems that some equal rights advocates believe that the "neglected" group, whether it be women, black people, gay people, or whomever, deserve an advantage for some undetermined period of time before they're satisfied. For minorities this could mean reperations, for women this could mean special all girl classes in a school. My quesiton is, do you believe it should be this way or do you believe we should essentially wipe the slate clean and just start being "equal". If you believe the disadvantaged group deserves a leg up, in what way do you think this needs to happen and for how long? A decade? A hundred years?

Answer 1

Although the rationale behind "positive discrimination" is understandable it is actually seriously counterproductive.

1. It breeds further resentment against the underprivileged group.
2. The benefits will tend to be taken up by those members of the underprivileged group who are actually NOT underprivileged.

A good example is India whwich has a positive discrimination system for so-called "backward castes" (the official term). In practice, however, what this has meant is that those people who are ethnically from the "backward castes" but are actually middle class have been able to enter university and government jobs with much greater ease than the general population, breeding resentment and furthering the stereotype of these people as backward simply because less-intelligent members become high profile. At the same it has done absolutely nothing for the vast majority of people from "backward castes" who are from very poor backgrounds.

Positive discrimination can conceivably work, if you focus only on income rather than ethnic or religious background which is too general a criterion. Better still, though, would be to actually address the core issues which result in poverty in the neglected communities - housing, poor schools, crime, drugs. Positive discrimination is an ineffective "quick fix".

Edit:
The above is really an answer to the additional info you gave. Thinking about your actual question: Equal rights should can not means special rights for some - no. But equal opportunity for all does need special rights for some. Those who are impoverished, those who suffer from disability. I think it is equal opportunity we should be aiming for, not equal rights.

Answer 2

It would be great if, as you said, we could "wipe the slate and start being equal", but the thing is, it just doesn't happen that way. What I mean is that to "wipe the slate" you need to equal the ground, that's where affirmative action for women, "minorities", alternative lifestyles, etc come in.
I'll speak from my personal experience as a woman. I'm an electronic engineer, a degree and carreer that is often populated by men. It was a very, VERY tough degree and as a studente, it demanded 100% of your time. very challenging. Of our class of 60, 57 where men and just 3 women.
When I got out into the real world and was starting to look for a job, I thought, "Hell, if my male "classmates" have a 100% chance of eing hired, I have a 95% chance"... Boy was I ever wrong!!! There are practically no opportunities for women in a technical-oriented carreer. If I say I had a 50% chance vs the 100% of my male colleagues, I might run the risk of exaggerating my chances.... That bad. I saw uys from my own class that were 9as students and work partners) incomptent at best, being picked over me just because they were, well, guys; I saw this over and over again.
I finally landed a job in a big automotive manufacturer with equal opportunity employment policies. That's where I found my niche to be able to work and put to use all of my knowledge and hard work as a graduate student, and also to grow profesionally.
That's why I feel you must level the ground to wipe the slate. Of course, these programs won't be around forever (and, as such have been dropping through the years), but a true cultural change must happen so there'll be no need for these policies. It will, happen, it IS happening right now. And from anyone who has benefited from them (myself included) it's our responsibility to help out others in our disadvantaged situation 9and no, I don't think I'm using the word to liberally)
Finally, I'd like to end this "short novel" (*lol) with a quote from Chris Rock (while talking about affrimative action): " I don't want to get a job over someone who's more qualified than me because I'm black (in my case, female); but if it's a tie: f*ck 'em" *lol

Answer 3

All men should be treated as equals, but that isn't going to happen in this country anytime soon. That only means if you are a straight male. All others have different rules. Yes, I agree with you that "equal" rights usually mean "special" rights. The way it is done now, promotes reverse discrimination. It also opens up a whole other can of worms with being PC and with sexual harrassment.
I think we do need to start over and set the rules to be truly equal.

Answer 4

Some people are just more equal than others. There will always, and must always, be a pecking order. It is basic instinct, visible in every mammal species on earth. Physical prowess and mental superiority should (but unfortunaltely don't) call the shots and keep the peace. A good balance would be best. Eliminating "self-interest" on the governmental level would be the best and only start.

Answer 5

We don't start equal, so how can we all compete as equal. Imagine competing for a job with someone with downs syndrome. They didn't start on a level playing field with you. Also, someone whose family has never been to college. Are they equal with a middle class family with a comfortable income? No. Since we don't invest enough in disadvantaged children when they are young, we need to give advantages to them when they are older. It's just the way it is.

Answer 6

nope, i think equal right should put everyone on a level playing field. my daughter is diabetic, i don't consider her a minority, though. i just want her to be able to go to school and later in life get a job, as everyone else does. but for some reason ppl think i'm asking for too much when i request a 504 plan for someone to meet her needs at school b/c she is not mentally or physically impared, no person is any more imprtant than the next, they should all be given the same opportunities.

Answer 7

It's a matter of perception; until the marginalised are destereotyped and given equal footing in the minds of the ruling class(ie white wealthy males) any legal rights afforded them will merely be used as fuel to perpetuate resentment and prejudice towards them.
This process is not helped by the media; advertisers in particular, who rely on baseness and cliche to identify consumers more simply with products. Curb their abuse of perception and hopefully we can get somewhere

Answer 8

There should be no difference in rights for certain differences in people, such as race or gender. However, other differences do need special consideration, for instance mental or physical disabilities. A child with Down's Syndrome, for instance, will need special education and assistance, and social support through out his/her lifetime. An otherwise capable person, black/white, male/female really doesn't need special rights; only those guaranteed in our consititution.

Answer 9

No, ♥Agrippina♥, I believe EQUAL=EQUAL!, but as for one, I am in the generation that started all this women's lib $╠╣┼ and I personally never wanted it....before women's lib, men treated women MUCH better, women were not even considered for combat [which I think is WRONG!]*, & it's true that we didn't make as much as ♂ but we really haven't made that much progress in that regard anyway....in reality, things have become MUCH harder for women since that movement and I believe when you demand ''equality'', you also have to consider what the consequences of your ''equality'' will be and I don't think those fools in the 70's ever considered what it would REALLY do to us!

Answer 10

Special rights are not there only equal rights are there ; but due to humanity some get preference and that is practical .