Affirmative Actions

In Defense of Affirmative Action

In 1961 , the term "affirmative action " was first introduced by President John F Kennedy . President Kennedy proposed that methods had to be developed to specifically address issues that were not adequately remedied even with civil rights laws and the constitution . President Johnson acted upon this proposal and saw affirmative action as a means to get results that were not achieved previously . President Johnson said in explanation of the need for affirmative action policies "You do not take a person who , for years , has been hobbled by chains

and liberate him , bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say you are free to compete with all the others , and still just believe that you have been completely fair " He understood that steps needed to be taken that would level the playing field and remediate the problems . The issue had to be forced with affirmative action policies because it would not have happened naturally . He understood that just it was so , that people were equal did not mean that it was so or that they would suddenly be treated as equal

Affirmative action at that time and still today focuses much attention on jobs and education . It forces opportunities that had previously just been available to whites . Affirmative action was crafted as a temporary measure meant to level the playing field in America . However , there still appears to be a need for affirmative action as we continue to identify new groups of people who are underrepresented in certain positions . Affirmative action has grown from a focus on African Americans and women , to focusing on people with disabilities and people of varied ethnic and racial backgrounds . A quick example of how time has changes the need for such policies involves women in traditionally male jobs , such as law enforcement or fire fighting . Rather than deny work on the basis of sex bluntly , these organizations established criteria that made it very difficult if not impossible for women to meet . The criteria were not always necessary but they were more based in a male tradition Height requirements for example had no bias in need , but hey did the job of keeping women out of those fields . In America , affirmative action has been focused on offering a chance for opportunities to African Americans who have been undeniably the underdog in terns of employment and educational opportunities as a result of severe discrimination following hundreds of years of slavery

Affirmative actions are steps taken , or policies developed with the goal of increasing the representation of underrepresented groups Traditionally , affirmative action has been used to increase the numbers of women and minorities in the workplace and in colleges . In other word those historically at a disadvantage are give a preference or advantage so that they get the spot over another person . Under affirmative action people get a preference as a result of their race , gender or ethnicity These policies don 't guarantee anything but a fair chance . When...