Question

Analyze the benefits and consequences of affirmative action. What are the goals of affirmative action? In what areas of public policy have affirmative action policies been most commonly used? Describe at least two prominent Supreme Court decisions associated with affirmative action.

• Response length requirement: 350 words or more

Answer 1

Affirmative actions are the policy actions taken to benefit the backwards. It could be by providing them employment or food or water.

Benefits-

1. Removes inequality-

When such measures are taken in order to support the disadvantaged people and for the welfare of the same, it helps them grow. This means, it lessens the inequality between the two sorts of people.

2. Contributes to the country-

If the people grows which were not even counted as employed before, the country will grow too because with the employment in their hands, the total income of the country increases and so does GDP.

Consequences-

1. Increases discrimination-

The policy actions that are taken to promote disadvantaged group does not focus on those who are already well off. There isn’t a bad thing about that but if we see it on a whole big level, then the policy actions should be taken for the overall growth of the economy. Making the disadvantaged groups grow only will debar others and thus creates discrimination.

2. Devaluing individual efforts-

If the affirmative actions are taken, then those people who are already fighting to get pout from the place they have been in, will be devalued. Any success seen will be out of the results of affirmative action and not individual efforts.

Goals-

1. The main aim of affirmative action is to remove discrimination between two sets of people by providing equal education and employment to all.
2. To develop the developing countries with a greater pace as to make them developed real sooner.

The public policies where affirmative action have been actively used are-

1. Primary education
2. Employment opportunities

Two prominent decisions taken by Supreme Court associated with affirmative action are-

1. Reservations in India:

India being a developing country does have a lot of backward classes in it like OBC, SC, ST etc.

To make them grow and provide equal opportunities, supreme court of India had introduces various reservation percentages for them in different areas.

2. Fight against Racial discrimination-

In America, affirmative action was taken to fight against the racial discrimination during the job hiring process. Whites were given preference over blacks and thus the policies were undertaken to provide equal importance to blacks.