Affirmative Action
In twenty-first century America, programs like Affirmative Action are controversial to say the least. The average person, be them black, white, man, women, would like to believe that those sorts of programs aren’t necessary and that society has moved beyond needing programs to combat race and gender discrimination. Though, as much as one would like to believe that, the reality of the situation is that those types of programs still serve a very real need even to this day. Using statistics from a Gallup poll, the author articulated, “While the United States is divided between 49% of citizens supporting Affirmative Action programs and 43% opposing them, many Americans have a difficult time defining what Affirmative Action is” (Affirmative Action, A Social Issue.). There are pros and cons to it, as with most things; but when weighed with the full picture in mind, the issue becomes clearer. Affirmative Action should be kept in place because even with its faults and possible drawbacks, the intention in valid and the results yielded from its practice are significant and have the potential to be even greater.
Affirmative Action is meant to ‘level the playing field,’ between men and women and between ethnic groups and whites. Women throughout history have been repressed in one form or another. One argument for Affirmative Action is that, in the case of women, it helps combat a discrimination that has existed throughout the last several centuries and that continues on to this day. Always on the underside of progress and innovation, is the woman’s participation and share in it all (Platt). This is especially true of women in the United States. Of the major industrialized nations, women of this country were the last to receive suffrage--the right to vote--and since then the battle for equality has raged on. As recently as this year, another frontier has been surpassed. Women are finally able to serve on the front lines. That there was even a question of whether or not a woman
Affirmative Action is meant to ‘level the playing field,’ between men and women and between ethnic groups and whites. Women throughout history have been repressed in one form or another. One argument for Affirmative Action is that, in the case of women, it helps combat a discrimination that has existed throughout the last several centuries and that continues on to this day. Always on the underside of progress and innovation, is the woman’s participation and share in it all (Platt). This is especially true of women in the United States. Of the major industrialized nations, women of this country were the last to receive suffrage--the right to vote--and since then the battle for equality has raged on. As recently as this year, another frontier has been surpassed. Women are finally able to serve on the front lines. That there was even a question of whether or not a woman
Cited: February 11, 2013