Why is "affirmative action" or "employment equity" offensive?

Question

I've often heard people claim that affirmative action (or, "employment equity") is discrimination against Caucasians. However, I believe it is actually a method for giving qualified non-Caucasians a real chance at employment. Unofficial affirmative action was OK for Caucasians, but when it became official and focused on non-Caucasians, it became offensive.

I've also heard that "all the immigrants are taking our jobs". Actually, since there are far more jobs than there are immigrants, and since the jobs they're offered are the ones no one else wants, I find the ignorance of that comment to be irritating.

Another complaint is that all the variety/corner stores are staffed by Asians and South Asians. Why should they not work for themselves? Why should these educated people instead work in low-paying jobs for people who have no respect for them?

Anyway, whining about affirmative action is nonsensical to me. It sounds like scapegoating. What do you think?

I've often heard people claim that affirmative action (or, "employment equity") is discrimination against Caucasians. However, I believe it is actually a method for giving qualified non-Caucasians a real CHANCE at employment. Unofficial affirmative action was OK for Caucasians, but when it became official and focused on non-Caucasians, it became offensive.

I've also heard that "all the immigrants are taking our jobs". Actually, since there are far more jobs than there are immigrants, and since the jobs they're offered are the ones no one else wants, I find the ignorance of that comment to be irritating.

Another complaint is that all the variety/corner stores are staffed by Asians and South Asians. Why should they not work for themselves? Why should these educated people instead work in low-paying jobs for people who have no respect for them?

Anyway, whining about affirmative action is nonsensical to me. It sounds like scapegoating.

Btw, I've said IMIGRANTS, not "illegals".

Oops, sorry I didn't realise adding details would keep my original details.

When I referred to the jobs no one wants, I was referring to them in general (cleaning toilets, sweeping the streets, etc.), not just farm work.

I see that this is question is the wrong one for this forum. Clearly, affirmative action in the U.S. is very different from the Canadian equivalent. I still feel though, that there should be balance. Non-Caucasians have plenty of programs and bursaries, etc. available to them, whereas others don't. One thing I find disturbing about some of the answers is that "immigrant" is synonymous with "illegal immigrant". Again, I am not referring to anyone who is illegally in the US or Canada. In Canada, I hear and read complaints about LEGAL immigrants. People who are legitimately here and are running the variety stores and dollar stores instead of collecting welfare. It's very annoying that the complainants are so greedy and grudgeful.
Anyway, please try to answer the question. Immigrants, not illegals.

Answer 1

I do think that it's discrimination for caucasians, but if thats what it takes for minorities to get a level playing field, then it's worth it. I'm white by the way....I think of it like a basketball game. You can't start playing by the rules after one team has a 50 point lead by cheating, you have to give the other team 50 points before you can truly have a fair game.

Answer 2

Why don't you look at what REALLY happens. Stop reading paper and start looking at reality. I am guessing you are one of those types of minorities who think you deserve something because your ancestors, or you are one of those that aren't educated on reality. Either way. See in REALITY, you know that World we live in, people who aren't as qualified get jobs because they fall into some group that affirmative action is trying to help. That person didn't do as good of a job on the tests but they got bonus points based on who they are. So it isn't getting the most qualified person the job. If he don't want to discriminate then we SHOULDN'T ask what race someone is. We will just have them give an application and the most qualified will get the interviews in a seperate room where their voice will be changed so that you can't tell their race at all. Maybe do the interview over computer IM service. Then you won't have a clue about the race and it would be a fair interview and fair application and everyone will be on a level playing field. Now how old are you though that you are buying into the arguement that the immigrants are only taking jobs no one wants. They take Construction jobs that Americans would GLADLY take, expect those crazy Americans want to be PAID. They won't work at or below minimum wage. Americans don't want the jobs because they won't work for the little money that is being offered, it isn't the job they don't want. I don't know of anyone complaining about LEGAL Immigrants or Americans of foreign descent running their own stores. Maybe they do in your region but they don't where I am.

Answer 3

Affirmative action is a way of discrimination anyway you look at it.
I did not get a job because of affirmative action. I was told after the interview that even though I was the highest qualified candidate for the job I was not going to receive an offer for employment because they had to meet a quota of minorities and women to keep from being sued for violating set standard of Affirmative Action.
If you want to make all things equal take race off an application and do not allow face to face interviews, place a partition between the interviewer and interviewee. Do not allow either to see each other before or after the interview and allow the most qualified person to get the job.
I will say that the basis behind Affirmative Action was to get rid of Discrimination but it has only increased it. When an unqualified or under qualified applicant receives a position and can not do the job the employer has just wasted their money and time on the individual.

Answer 4

Its really only offensive when it chooses a less-qualified minority over a Caucasian. The problems caused by a history of discrimination can't be solved by plugging people into new enviroments. Minorities as a whole face hardships from their birth; a boost 20 years later on in life is way too late. Minorities lose out on education and resources in early years, leaving them unprepared for a sudden jump to a job that they're less qualified for.

In the analogy about the basketball game, the 50pts don't make it a fair game if the other team plays at a far lower level. I don't mean to say certain races as a whole are dumber/ less skillful by default. However, education and the resources denied to minorities during development have a profound effect on their future. In order to make it a real fair game, the other team needs to be trained better and have a comparable skill level.

Affirmative action between equally qualified candidates is fair; Although abilities match, one has had far more hardships to overcome.

That being said, race cannot be the only factor. A wealthy minorty clearly has had access to more resources than even most Caucasians. Economic standards are necessary to ensure that diversity reflects ability and potential.

Answer 5

I think it's about giving people a chance. At least, in Canada that's what it is. People here thought that affirmative action was like it was in the U.S. All it was was a way to keep people from throwing a resume into the garbage before the boss got to sift through them for interviews. I would bet that any white turned down for a job solely because of her race was able to get another job real quick. That's now how it is for everyone else. And, it sounds like people think that getting rid of affirmative action (or anything like it) will make things equal. LOL I don't think so! People will just go right back to their white-only/mostly hiring practices. It's very sad that companies are hiring non-whites just to meet quotas. It's pitiful that they don't hire them based on merit. I am sure that if they were willing to do that, affirmative action wouldn't be necessary.
I like what that person said about faceless interviews. Good idea!

Answer 6

The reason affirmative action is wrong is because it is discrimination based on race, gender, or ethnicity.
You're right in pointing out that non-Caucasians were discriminated against for a long time...and decent people of ALL races decided that it was wrong, and worked very hard (including giving their lives, in some cases) to STOP it.
A lot of people support affirmative action because they know...way down deep where you can't lie to yourself....that they do not have what it takes to compete successfully with others.
When he was President, LBJ used a very good sports analogy in his defense of affirmative action. He said that it is not "equal opportunity" to take a man with a broken leg and put him at the starting line of a race and tell him that he is free to compete.
To continue using that sports analogy, fair and ethical affirmative action would be to do everything within our power to ensure that when that man got to the starting line, he would not have the "broken leg" and would be able to compete fairly. Not winning every time, but not losing every race, either. Unfortunately, affirmative action has been perverted to the point that what we are doing is...we run the race...and REGARDLESS of where that man finishes....we instantly proclaim him the winner. And we tell the other athletes that...well, we're sorry...we know you've worked hard all your life for this race, and technically you finished ahead of this person...but the "diversity" numbers just didn't work.

Answer 7

Well, fedreal laws regarding employment have changed drastically since affirmative action was first implemented. Discrimination in hiring practices is not what it once was. The Equal oppurtunity act was supposed to level the playing field so affirmative action was no longer needed. In the end, affirmative action defeated the purpose it was implemented for. Affirmative action was implemented to prevent prejudice in highering practices, but it increased prejudices towards the people who were highered.

And you are correct, before affirmative action and before the EOA, whites did higher whites. This was prejudice and this was wrong. But, affirmative action is just as prejudicial and is equally wrong and in the end, two wrongs do not make a right. It was also accepted once upon a time to hang blacks. Does that mean the government should now allow whites to be hanged to make up the difference? It seems upsurd to me that anyone would want to benefit from a system, but deplored the same system when it was used against them.

Answer 8

America is the land of opportunity. But.....
what was the purpose of the Civil Rights movement back in the '60s? Everyone said it was equality, but affirmative action is NOT equality, it is preference. Did Martin Luther King, Jr. lie when he said he want discrimination to end? Did he really mean that he wanted discrimination against white people?
When a Law School has 100 available placements for 1st year law students, shouldn't they take the applicants with the highest LSAT? Why would they take a student with a lower LSAT who is a minority over a white person with a higher one?
A student can work and study hard to get a higher grade point average, but they can't change their race.
You could have an employee with a degree and who does excellent work, is always on time, and provides his employer with great value for his salary. Should he be passed over for promotion in favor of an employee that doesn't do as good work, and has only a mediocre on-time record, simply because he or she is a minority?
The only complaints I have heard about immigrants is about illegal ones. I can't believe even you would be stupid enough to argue in favor of illegal immigration.

Answer 9

Two people are equally qualified for a job. One is hired, the other turned away, solely based upon race. Is that not discrimination? Should it matter which candidate was which race? "Affirmative action" is another term for "racial preference in hiring".
Discrimination against one race today does not make up for discrimination against the other in the past. True equality should be the goal.
As an employer I want to hire the best. I don't care if he or she is black, white, Asian, or whatever, and I don't want to have to hire or pass on anyone because his or her skin color is not some government agency's "preferred" shade.

Answer 10

Affirmative action isn't the solution. Money should be given based on the income of a person. A poor Asian student would still be given aid. A poor Caucasian student would benefit from it as well. Also affirmative action is borderline unconconstitutional.

Answer 11

Look at it this way. You apply for a job. You are required to take several tests for the job. You score a 95% on the test. The next guy walks in, he only scores a 70 on the test but gets a 30 point bonus thanks to Affirmative Action just because he falls into some catagory. He is not as qualified as you are, in fact in scoring a 70 he probably is barely qualified for the job if at all. Yet due to Affirmative Action he gets the job. How is that fair? And even further than that, how does that help society - giving people who are not as qualified a job that they cant handle?
I know you will say "Oh hes racist". No i am not. I did not mention any skin color. Im just explaining how affirmative action works. Its not good for society in general.