Positive Discrimination and Affirmative Action

1. Explain with examples, «positive discrimination» and «affirmative action».

Positive discrimination can be define as process or principle according to which the preference, especially in employment, education or business is given to the minority groups of society that have been subjected to discrimination in the past by by reason of gender, race, ethnic, disability, religious prejudices and etc (Longman, 1992). The idea is to provide such group with special help to attain essential representation. This preferential treatment ensures equal opportunities for those marginalized in society. It does not mean that they will automatically be preferred to other candidate, but if both candidates possess same lavel of qualification, the representative of the minority group will get the job.

An example of positive discrimination given in Equality Act (2010); In a department store out of nine working senior managers only two of them are woman. When a new vacancy become available only woman applicants are interviewing for the job to overcome an under - representation among the senior managers, regardless of that they qualified or not for the job. (Home Office)

Alternative terms for positive discrimination are «reverse discrimination» and «affirmative action». The latter term is widely used in the United States. It's a very broad term that can include any measure, especially in workplace or educational context. This programme has been designed to try to defeat the results of past discrimination in order to create equality opportunities by giving jobs and assets to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women (2001).

The purpose of affirmative action or positive discrimination is to develop a systematic approach for qualified individuals who had experienced discrimination and open for them doors of education, business development opportunities and employment (White House, 1995).

Affirmative action may be presented in many different ways. Such as...