Affirmative Action

Affirmative action was orginally designed to help minorities, but women-especially white


women-have made the greatest gains as a result of these programs”(Gross, 1996).   Affirmative action is a


growing argument among our society.   It is multifaceted and very often defined vaguely.   Many people


define affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness.   Others might see it


as a quote-based system for different minority groups.   I agree and support affirmative actions in that


individual’s should be treated equally.   I feel affirmative action as an assurance that the best


qualified person will receive the job.


Is affirmative action fair?   In 1974, a woman named Rose was truned down for a supervisory job in


favor of a male.   She was told that she was the most qualified person, but the position was going to be


filled by a man, because he had a family to support.   Five years before that, when Rose was about to fill


an entry-level position in banking, a personnel officer outlined the woman’s pay scale, which was $25 to


$50 month less than what men were being payed for the same position.   Rose was furious because she felt


this was descriminating to her.   She confronted the personnel officer and he saw nothing wrong with it.


Thanks to affirmative action today things like these situations are becoming more rare and/or corrected


more quickly.   Affirmative action has definately helped women and minorities in their careers, but it has


yet to succed in the goal of equality to the fullest for the business world to woment and minorities.


“Some observers argue that women have made huge strides!


with the help of affirmative action.   They now hold 40 percent of all corporate middle-management jobs,


and the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 57 percent since 1982”(Blackwood, 1995).

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