The thing I have learned about affirmative action that I was not aware of before is one related to its contentious nature that depicts the political and ideological divisions surrounding it. I have noted that the issue has been subjected to criticisms particularly whereby its social utility is considered as dubious. While it usually equates diversity of race on the one hand, it is usually unfair particularly where it violates individualism convictions (Tanenhaus, 2013) .
When it comes to the efficacy of affirmative action in hiring, I believe it is capable of enforcing greater equality between distinct groups. For instance, on matters related to record keeping, affirmative action requires that employers who receive funds from the public ensure to keep records of the number of their employees, especially those from protected groups, such as veterans, those with disabilities, and females among others in their key job categories. Also, on job advertisements, employers need to ensure they advertise job openings broadly for several days to ensure that groups not aware of the job availability get notified hence allow each person to compete. Additionally, if a certain candidate is qualified over the others, the individual needs hiring irrespective of gender, race, and veteran status among other issues (SOC&101, n.d) .
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In higher education, I think affirmative action is playing a role in terms of fostering equality between diverse groups in higher education. Whereas procedures for affirmative action somehow differ across universities and colleges, race should not serve as the major criterion they base their selection on. Affirmative action requires that learning institutions ensure to maintain democracy whereby all competing groups are able to attain learning positions. It is also illegal to reserve a limited number of seats for learners of color (Barkan, 2011) .
In general, I would like affirmative action to be strengthened. The weaknesses in the initiative have led it to be exploited to an extent that it fails to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups. Strengthening it would allow more people from disadvantaged groups to access diverse opportunities in the society without discrimination.
The alternate programs that might break through the prevailing institutional discrimination comprise of the top X-percent programs to ensure that top students acquire positions to universities, which would foster diversity. Also, more students from low income backgrounds should be offered admission to higher learning institutions.
References
Barkan, S. E. (2011). Sociology: Understanding and changing the social world, brief edition paperback – 2011. Boston: Flat World Knowledge, Inc.
SOC&101. (n.d). Mini-lecture 14: Affirmative action.
Tanenhaus, S. (2013). Afirmative action's contentious history. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000002298568/affirmative-actions-contentious-history.html
