| What is Discrimination? | | | | example, many opponents of affirmative action |
| Though the actual term "discrimination" simply | | | | policies instituted by schools, universities, and |
| refers to the ability to distinguish or differentiate | | | | corporations claim that these policies provide |
| characteristics, discrimination in society is often | | | | unfair consideration to minorities at the expense |
| considered an unlawful act where a person or | | | | of the historically dominant white demographic. |
| individual is judged, treated, or excluded based | | | | The Reverse Discrimination Controversy |
| solely on factors such as race, religion, gender, or | | | | A controversy has been and is swirling around |
| age. In the United States, several federal statutes | | | | allegations of reverse discrimination. Supporters of |
| exist which outlaw discriminatory practices in | | | | the theory clash with opponents, many of whom |
| education, employment, and social interactions. | | | | say that reverse discrimination is a myth. |
| What is Reverse Discrimination? | | | | Affirmative action policies are often at the center |
| In the United States, certain racial, ethnic, and | | | | of such debates. Those who are pro-affirmative |
| gender groups have been historically discriminated | | | | action point out that current policies set forth |
| against; that is, these groups of people have been | | | | diversity "goals," rather than "quotas." Rather than |
| treated poorly or as inferior human beings based | | | | discriminate against whites, say supporters, |
| on race, religion, gender, or age. One of the most | | | | affirmative action levels the playing field by giving |
| egregious examples is America's former identity | | | | historically disadvantaged groups a chance to |
| as a slaveholding country. African-Americans were | | | | "catch up." |
| treated as property and had few (if any) rights, | | | | On the other hand, opponents of affirmative |
| simply due to their skin color. | | | | action argue that there is really no logical |
| In modern-day America, society has moved | | | | difference between "goals" and "quotas," and that |
| away from this point-of-view and taken steps, | | | | trying to find one is just a matter of twisting |
| both legal and social, to rectify the past injustices | | | | semantics. They say that affirmative action does |
| committed against oppressed groups. Minorities | | | | not so much promote diversity as encourage a |
| and women have been the greatest beneficiaries | | | | color-based worldview. Instead of judging |
| of these relatively new policies. However, some | | | | applicants based on individual merit, say |
| groups have argued that the pendulum has swung | | | | opponents, affirmative action forcibly injects racial |
| too far in the other direction, saying that modern | | | | considerations into the equation, creating conflict |
| policies are nothing more than discrimination in | | | | where there should be none, and giving minorities |
| reverse - that is, discriminatory behavior targeting | | | | an unfair advantage over whites due to the color |
| a historically advantaged or dominant group. For | | | | of their skin. |