Why would someone have a problem with Affirmative Action?

Question

I am a HR director and I have spent my career studying civil rights law and affirmative action. I hear so many people opposed to it. I think a lot of people do not understand what it is. Affirmative action simply assures that nobody can hire on the basis of race, sex, ethnic background, or sexual orientation. Affirmative action is the enforcer of equal opportunity. The is no quota, not really. If you have only hired 50 white males between 25-35 then you WILL be looked into. You are not forced to hire unqualified individuals. If a black person comes in and a white and whoever is the most qualified and the best fit for the company will get the job.Assuming that blacks are not qualified is racist. No company is going to hire unqualified individuals, it does not matter your color. When Affirmative action first began, many people were still stuck in the seperate but equal mindset and change did not go well for them. So politicians ran with it and fed people fear instead of what is true.

Lily, if that were true then corportate America would not stand a chance. You are considered an monority although statistically it is not correct. If businesses just hired unqualified persons, then what state would big and small business be in?

Champagne, it is still based on merit and qualifications and not minority status. It just says because you fit a certain group that you will get the same chance as everyone else.

Answer 1

as a person for affirmative action, i would like to say i can understand the reason why many wound not think that affirmative action is wrong. For the fact that it may appear that if you are more qualified and your white, but a minority is there, they will automatically get the job. But imagine how that would feel vice versa. A qualified black cant get the job but a white would get it automatically. However, dont assume that racism is over and through. Segregatin was more than 40 years ago. That is some of our parents ages. I believe that if there wasnt affirmative action. That minorities would not be able to attain the jobs that involve office matters or higher pay. I have a white friend that everytime she interviews she gets a job. We both have great interview qualities, but she told me that she is white and it is easier for her. To admit that is big of her. Because it's not saying that whites are better but that inequalities are present. I believe that it will take more than a law to say that racism is wrong before it will abolished. I dont believe that i will see it in my lifetime.

Answer 2

You have been institutionalized.

Oh, politicians must just love you...feeding right into their agenda.

People don't like affirmative action because it in fact does the exact opposite of everything you've just stated.

In our state, you used to have an actual degree to work for the state itself. Now, you have a better chance of getting a job if you are Spanish and hold no degree. They can pay you less and you do protect them for "being investigated".

You don't have to be a racist for not liking affirmative action. In reality, people ARE hired for race, religion or gender and for you state otherwise is appalling.

True affirmative action would mean that the most qualified person is ALWAYS hired. This in fact, IS NOT the case.

Affirmative action was meant to protect not only minorities but women as well. As a Caucasian, educated woman, I can honestly tell you that what you have stated is a joke. If I were to go in for a job interview and my competitor was a person of minority status with roughly half of my education, that person would be hired instead of myself.

Explain it to me....how is this fair?

Answer 3

The problem is, we can't be equal if one group has special treatment for getting into schools, jobs, or housing.....
Everyone should be on the same playing field...equal.....