Affirmative action represents a process that attempts to fight discrimination and promote equal opportunity in education and employment for all. Proponents of affirmative action maintain that due to pervasive racism in U.S. society, affirmative action measures, both voluntary and mandatory, are necessary to level the playing field. Opponents of affirmative action argue that such measures are tantamount to reverse discrimination, giving preferential treatment to women and minorities at the expense of white males. Only recently, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold affirmative abtion in a narrow 5-4 decision (Curry, p. 1). The actual phrase ôaffirmative actionö was first used in 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson (Sykes, p. 1). JohnsonÆs Executive Order 11246, requires federal contractors to ôtake affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national originö (Sykes, p. 1). Since then, various laws and policies have been created to undermine discrimination in U.S. social institutions. Since then, there have also been numerous efforts to repeal affirmative action by those claiming it represents reverse discrimination. Despite efforts to undermine it, affirmative action is still necessary in American society due to persistent and often institutionalized prejudice and racism.
Affirmative action policies are typically a good measure of the racial and ethnic divisions in American society. Many Americans equate affirmative action to ôquotas, set-asides, and preferential treatment that benefit minorities and women at the expense of malesö (Affirmative, p. 1). A good deal of the argument used to roll back affirmative action programs and policies stems from its perception as a policy that promotes reverse discrimination and promotes preferential treatment. However, according to the National Organization for Women (NOW), Ã...