Against Affirmative Action

587 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative side of affirmative action

Affirmative action was created to assist minority groups against discrimination, but affirmative action does more harm than what it can do to help. Affirmative action was created with the intention of leveling the playing field so that everyone can have an equal opportunity to be hired or accepted in to a school, but it does the opposite of what it is meant to do. Affirmative action is reverse discrimination against white males, lesser qualified people are admitted into jobs and colleges, and not all people have an equal opportunity to advance.

Affirmative action should be abolished because the negatives from the program far outweigh the positives. The program is doing a lot of harm to American society instead of helping.

If two people have completed college and are trying to enter a medical school, but one is more qualified than the other, would it not be logical to choose the one who is more qualified to become a doctor? If the less qualified person were a minority, they would most likely be chosen over the better qualified white male. Which doctor would you rather have operating on you, the one who was more qualified or the one who was accepted in order to meet a quota? Just because someone happens to be a white male they are passed over so there can be "equality" at school and work. Affirmative action is allowing this to happen. Many whites are not allowed to enter a university because there needs to be a certain number of minorities enrolled in the university.

The equal opportunities law was passed so that everyone can have an equal opportunity. Affirmative action doesn't treat everyone as equals. What affirmative action does is it gives minorities a better chance of being chosen for a job just because...

... middle of paper ...

... be used to make up for how African Americans used to be treated as slaves and during the decades after their freedom. Discrimination is wrong and that is why those things have been abolished. Affirmative action should not be used to try to make up for what was done in the past. What was done is done. Now we must find a way for everyone to have the same opportunity for triumph.

Affirmative action needs to be stopped. In America, everyone is supposed to have an equal opportunity for success. Affirmative action has taken that away from Americans because there is no more equality. Minorities are now becoming the dominant group and whites are becoming the ones oppressed. It discriminates, does not allow the most qualified to enter schools or jobs, and it is not fair. There should be no special treatments, and no special preferences given to people.

Show More
Related

  • Bernard Boxill's The Color-Blind Principle

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe that this idea is immoral; I don’t believe affirmative action harms minorities, and I don’t believe people should be accepted to college for the reason of being black, but instead should be a fair process for both whites and blacks.

    Read More

  • None of This is Fair by Mr. Richard Rodriguez

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    After long years of suffering, degradation, and different sorts of discrimination which the disadvantaged group of people had experienced, the “Affirmative Action Law” was finally passed and enforced for the very first time on September 24, 1965. The central purpose of the Affirmative Action Law is to combat racial inequality and to give equal civil rights for each citizen of the United States, most especially for the minorities. However, what does true equality mean? Is opportunity for everyone? In an article entitled, “None of this is fair”, the author, Mr. Richard Rodriguez explains how his ethnicity did not become a hindrance but instead, the law became beneficial. However, Mr. Richard Rodriguez realized the unfairness of the “Affirmative Action” to people who are more deserving of all the opportunities that were being offered to him. Through Mr. Rodriguez’s article, it will demonstrates to the reader both favorable, and adverse reaction of the people to the Affirmative Action, that even though the program was created with the intention to provide equality for each and every citizen, not everyone will be pleased, contented, and benefit from the law.

    Read More

  • Hopwood Vs Texas

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    Affirmative action, while a great idea in the beginning, is no longer needed to make up for the past discrimination of women and minorities. It does not get rid of discrimination, but rather creates it towards whites and men. Any form of discrimination is wrong, whether intentional or unintentional. Businesses and universities will set aside a separate pool for minorities and women so they don’t have to originally compete against the whole pool of applicants. A person’s qualifications and how they got to where they are should not be questioned because of affirmative action. The only reason some people are still questioned or considered undeserving is because affirmative action still takes place. Getting rid of affirmative action in universities and businesses will eliminate reverse discrimination and ensure that their qualifications, along with achievements, will not be questioned based on the skin color or gender of a

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    majority, does not advance the cause of minorities in a meaningful way, and needs to be

    Read More

  • Quota Hiring Case Study

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Affirmative action programs may or may not have been appropriate in times past where inequalities were prevalent and programs to build diversity were mandated. In the United States today, where law bars discrimination, I feel employment opportunities should be based on merit and not on race, sex or any other preconceived notion. Actively recruiting candidates that do not meet minimum requirements or standards is counterproductive to any agency that strives to serve the public in an efficient and effective manner and further erode confidence in government.

    Read More

  • President Kennedy and Affirmative Action

    1491 Words  | 3 Pages

    Overall, I am arguing that affirmative action policies cause a significant more amount of harm than they hinder. These policies are wholly arbitrary, lack common reason, and create discrimination while simultaneously trying to eliminate it. They additionally encourage mediocrity while attempting to award less competent individuals over more competent ones. The diversity affirmative action policies try to promote could easily manifest itself naturally, but is instead forced where it need not be. If western society is going to have any hope of eradicating discrimination, it need not be promoted in any form, even positively.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Action: The Pros And Cons Of Affirmative Action

    2623 Words  | 6 Pages

    Affirmative action is without a doubt, one of the most controversial and debated political topics found throughout the entirety of the history of the United States, especially in regards to college admissions. On both sides of the argument, you have millions of Americans vitriolically defending their beliefs as to whether or not affirmative action is a positive thing that benefits the entirety of America as a whole, or rather an outdated model existing well past its expiration date. Both sides of the argument have its pro and cons, but personally, I am of the opinion that affirmative action in regards to college admissions does more harm than good for America as a whole on a social, political, and economic level, and that it at the very least needs to be modified heavily, if not abolished altogether. However, in order to first understand the arguments both supporting and decrying affirmative action, as well as the controversy behind it, we first need to delve into its history for the related context.

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action in College Admissions

    1570 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, affirmative action is “an active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and women.” However, despite its well-intentioned policies, it has been the source of much controversy over the years. Barbara Scott and Mary Ann Schwartz mention that “proponents of affirmative action argue that given that racism and discrimination are systemic problems, their solutions require institutional remedies such as those offered by affirmative action legislation” (298). Also, even though racism is no longer direct, indirect forms still exist in society and affirmative action helps direct. On the other hand, opponents to affirm...

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action Essay

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    Affirmative action was created to allow minorities to have more opportunities in the workforce and in education. It still remains to be a debate whether affirmative action should be a necessary route even though we have made progress towards greater equality. The argument over Affirmative action has been going on for some time with two opposing sides. There is one side who finds Affirmative action as an opportunity to the less fortunate; those who are against have the belief that it promotes less qualified individuals rather than a person own merit.

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action and Racial Equality

    1480 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many individuals do not know the meaning of the term “affirmative action.” In order to clearly understand the issue, one must first know the necessary terms associated with it. Affirmative action is a term given to an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination (i.e. African Americans, Asians, etc.). For example, certain scholarships for African Americans can be regarded as affirmative action opportunities. Another example of affirmative action could be an institutional program designed for African Americans. So why is it important? Affirmative action policies and programs are designed to insure that qualified individuals of minority groups have equal access to programs and are “to par” with other individuals of the same merit. Please note that I said qualified and of the same merit. Affirmative action does not place individuals in minority groups at an advantage. This is a common misconception by some people. Affirmative action can be seen in the college admission process, the promotion process for higher-level positions, and in other various areas. The goal is to

    Read More

  • Is Affirmative Action still needed?

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today there is considerable disagreement in the country over Affirmative Action with the American people. MSNBC reported a record low in support for Affirmative Action with 45% in support and 45% opposing (Muller, 2013). The affirmative action programs have afforded all genders and races, exempting white males, a sense of optimism and an avenue to get the opportunities they normally would not be eligible for. This advantage includes admission in colleges or hiring preferences with public and private jobs; although Affirmative Action has never required quotas the government has initiated a benefits program for the schools and companies that elect to be diversified. The advantages that are received by the minorities’ only take into account skin color, gender, disability, etc., are what is recognized as discriminatory factors. What is viewed as racism to the majority is that there ar...

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action and Capital Punishment

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    I believe that as of right now, we should have affirmative action. I take the liberal perspective because I believe affirmative action is essential to society. Affirmative action is important because students with a disadvantaged background need the help, American society still gives priority to one racial group over another, and because we owe it to minorities to make up for discrimination against them in the past.

    Read More

  • Affirmative Action

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    Affirmative action is not the solution; it is a way of ignoring the problems with America's educational department. The government needs to initiate the improvement of precollege education and eliminate affirmative action.

    Read More

  • Why Affirmative Action Should Be Eliminated

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    Affirmative action policies were created to help level the playing field in American society. Supporters claim that these plans eliminate economic and social disparities to minorities, yet in doing so, they’ve only created more inequalities. Whites and Asians in poverty receive little to none of the opportunities provided to minorities of the same economic background (Messerli). The burden of equity has been placed upon those who were not fortunate enough to meet a certain school’s idea of “diversity” (Andre, Velasquez, and Mazur). The sole reason for a college’s selectivity is to determine whether or not a student has the credentials to attend that school....

    Read More

  • History and Importance of Affirmative Action

    1276 Words  | 3 Pages

    The need for affirmative action was a concept noticed in 1865 during the passages of the Civil War amendments. During those years our country was still practicing in slavery and wrongful treatment of the black race. While blacks were being forced to comply to the rules of slavery, many individuals were denied their rights to food, clothing, shelter, employment, education and many other wants and/or needs. Similar acts such as these over time lead the law of affirmative action. Over the years, affirmative action plans and policies continue to merge to further in the efforts of benefiting the equality among historically disadvantaged ethnic groups as well as women. From our past to our present many people who are equally qualified and in need of jobs, services, assistance and/or necessities are denied due to their gender, race, religion, and/or ethnicity. Acts of discrimination are not just associated with employment but extend to educational opportunities, housing needs, contracting for small and large business and other public services.

    Read More

More about Against Affirmative Action

Open Document