We teach are children that everyone is equal, how does one explain affirmative action?

Question

Just wondering how one explains affirmative action to a child, when throughout childhood, we teach them that skin color doesn't matter.

Answer 1

It's a childish to believe that everyone is equal, but it sounds good. Better to teach the child that there is truth in stereotyping, but there are always exceptions. ie., if he were to go to a math competition, Asians males will be overrepresented and generally perform statistically better than expected, however this doesn't guarantee that the winner wont be a black girl.

Affirmative action is intrinsically contradictory with equal treatment, but any time you dish out favors to a minority, they will support you overwhelmingly because that single issue maters, while the majority wont oppose you universally because they dont go by that single issue.

Affirmative action does accomplish several things - it does provide opportunity to those who wouldn't have qualified otherwise which sometimes leads good outcomes for them. It sometimes lowers the general standard because the less qualified people who reap thebenefits never do catch up. It also does foster a general feeling of incompetence towards the whole population who receive it, including those who are there purely by merit.

Bottom line to the child - the world isn't simple or black and white.

Answer 2

Skin color shouldn't matter but unfortunately it does to some people - very much. Everyone is special and remember that a broken clock is correct twice a day. Regarding affirmative action - because skin color matters much to some people we have a culture that refuses to be fair to all people. It is a system that allows and promotes such practices as adjusting test scores, relining, etcl, therefore like having handicaps in bowling, etc., affirmative action helps to even the score. It allows that person that doesn't have a million to get there kid in school. It allows someone with good skills to be able to attend a school that will hone those skills and make them great skills. Get Real, this was a sill question or you are really naive.

Answer 3

Affirmative action is not fair, and tries to force equal economic situations. Because I am a white male, I have to have higher test scores than any other group to get into colleges, putting me at a considerable disadvantage. If we are looking for a day when people, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "Will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the conduct of their character" we should end this practice.

This country was not built on equality, but on equal opportunity. Affirmative action is a slap in the face of that idea.

Answer 4

Its simple. Explain that affirmative action is a temporary attempt to make things equal for people who have not historically been treated equally, and also an attempt to acheive racial diversity in arenas that have not always been racially diverse. The principle of affirmative action is not meant to be permanently used, but to help temporarily remedy a situation that apparently is not able to remedy itself naturally.

Answer 5

Affirmative action laws state that all else being equal (meaning that only people who are qualified for the job are considered), that companies should give preference to the minority candidate.

The notion that affirmative action results in companies hiring inferior minority employees to more qualified white candidates is simply wrong.

At least that's the intent of the law. Obviously some companies will misinterpret the meaning, but they're the exception, not the rule.

You must have a smart kid for him/her to be asking about it at a young age.

Answer 6

The fact is, that everyone is not equal. Their are many biases among people. Weather it be race, gender ,sexuality, or identity. I work with teens that I under represented and judged because of where they come from or what they look and sound like. In my experience, I have found that discrimination is not a sleep. It is awake. Sadly my students are judged, not my what they can do, but by what they look like according to the bureaucracy in educational institutions.

For Example: The Hispanic students are judged on their accents, teachers talk done to them because they sound different. Some teachers say they are not allowed to speak Spanish, and when they slip, they get punished. This is their native language, it is who they are. African Americans are are profiled to be athletes, but when they become interested in something other than sports, counselors don't give them all the information they need to succeed in the field. One counselor told me that they didn't have the potential to succeed. The only one who can decide your potential is you. Within many high schools, students are profiled, including girls. Teachers only pay attention to their favorites when their is a diamond just waiting to be shined.

I could go on and on, but I won't. The fact is that everyone is not equal, as long as their is racism, discrimination, and gender bias. What we need to focus on is createing a world of understanding. In Education, I believe we need to change what we teach, and tell the truth. In the U.S. whiteness is the only accepted form of curriculum, this needs to change, we need to explore our society, and cultural backgrounds to nurture respect and understanding.

Answer 7

My dear affirmative action is dead. but it was needed when "other" reasons were used to not hire or rent to a race you did not like. We are all the same and not the same some of us are fat some thin some smart some not so some tall some short etc.

Answer 8

same explanation as to why when people tell kid not to judge a book by the cover and then cross the street when some mean looking person is in their path. why do you think there are prominent minority figures against affirmative action?

Answer 9

you just explain it! You can't teach skin color doesn't matter because it does! What you teach is racial acceptance! And just explain if from a historical context, you don't want them growing up oblivious to their surroundings. They can still practice racial acceptance without being totally oblivious and naive.


JOEL this country wasn't built on EQUAL OPPORTUNITY either, hence, AFF. ACTION. What the hell are they teaching ya'll? Nothing I presume.

Answer 10

white women are the main beneficiaries of affirmative action look it up. All races get it so stop complaining!