Affirmative action facts for kids

Affirmative action (also called positive discrimination in the United Kingdom) is a special set of rules or policies. These rules are made to help people from groups who have faced unfair treatment in the past. It means giving a little extra help or preference to members of minority groups or groups that are often left out.

The main goal of affirmative action is to create more fairness and balance in places like schools and workplaces. It tries to make sure everyone has a chance to succeed, especially those who might have been held back because of their background.

It is most often found in education, employment (getting a job), and welfare (government help programs).

What Is Affirmative Action?

Affirmative action is a way to try and fix past unfairness. Imagine a race where some runners start far behind the others. Affirmative action tries to give those runners a small head start or extra support so they can catch up. It's about making sure different groups of people are fairly represented in schools, jobs, and other areas of life.

Why Do We Need Affirmative Action?

For a long time, some groups of people faced a lot of unfair treatment. This could be because of their race, gender, or background. This unfairness meant they didn't get the same chances as others. For example, some schools or jobs might have mostly accepted people from one group. Affirmative action aims to correct these historical imbalances. It helps create a more diverse and fair society where everyone has opportunities.

Who Benefits from These Policies?

Affirmative action policies usually help groups that have been discriminated against. This often includes racial or ethnic minority groups, women, and people with disabilities. The idea is to help these groups get into colleges, find jobs, or receive other benefits that they might have missed out on before.

Where Is Affirmative Action Used?

Affirmative action is mainly used in two big areas: education and employment.

Affirmative Action in Education

Many colleges and universities use affirmative action when deciding which students to accept. They might look at a student's background, not just their grades. This helps create a student body with people from many different backgrounds. The goal is to make the learning environment richer and more diverse. It also helps ensure that talented students from all communities get a chance to go to good schools.

Affirmative Action in Employment

In the workplace, affirmative action means that companies try to hire people from diverse backgrounds. This doesn't mean hiring someone who isn't qualified. It means that if two people are equally qualified, the company might choose the one from a group that is underrepresented. This helps make sure that workplaces reflect the diversity of the wider community. It also helps break down barriers that might have stopped certain groups from getting good jobs.

Is Affirmative Action Legal?

The legality of affirmative action is different in various countries. In some places, it is seen as a way to promote equality. In others, it is considered unfair because it gives preference to some groups over others.

Affirmative Action Around the World

• United States: Affirmative action has been used for many years, especially since the 1960s. However, there have been many legal challenges. Courts have often debated how much preference can be given.
• United Kingdom: In the UK, it is called "positive discrimination" and is generally illegal. However, there are some exceptions, like "positive action." This allows employers to encourage applications from underrepresented groups but not to give them direct preference in hiring.
• Other Countries: Many countries have different approaches. Some have strong laws to promote diversity, while others focus more on equal opportunity without specific preferences.

Why Is It Sometimes Controversial?

Affirmative action can be a tricky topic. Some people believe it is unfair because it might mean someone from a majority group is overlooked. They argue that everyone should be judged only on their own skills and merits, not their background. Others argue that without affirmative action, the playing field is still not level. They believe it is a necessary tool to overcome the lasting effects of past discrimination and create a truly fair society.

See also

In Spanish: Discriminación positiva para niños