affirmative action

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A government or institutional policy or program. Its purpose is to counteract historical and ongoing discrimination. It aims to improve educational and employment opportunities for groups considered disadvantaged or underrepresented. These groups are often defined by race, ethnicity, gender, or other protected characteristics.
Usage
  • The term is used as a non-count noun to describe the general concept or policy.
  • It is commonly discussed in contexts of employment, university admissions, government contracting, and social justice.
  • It often appears in debates about fairness, equality, and meritocracy.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • The company's hiring goals are part of its affirmative action program.
    • Affirmative action in college admissions seeks to create a more diverse student body.
    • The Supreme Court heard a case challenging the use of affirmative action.
Advanced Usage
  • "to take affirmative action": To implement specific steps or measures to correct imbalances.
    • The university pledged to take affirmative action to recruit more faculty from diverse backgrounds.
  • "affirmative action plan": A formal, documented program outlining an organization's specific goals and procedures for promoting diversity and inclusion.
    • All federal contractors are required to develop an affirmative action plan.
Variants and Related Words
  • Affirmative (adj): 1) Agreeing with or consenting to a statement or request. 2) Positive, constructive, or intended to give support.
    • She gave an affirmative answer. (Meaning 1)
    • The government is taking affirmative steps to promote equality. (Meaning 2, related to the policy)
  • Reverse Discrimination (n): A controversial term used by critics who argue that affirmative action policies result in discrimination against individuals from majority or non-preferred groups.
Synonyms
  • Equal opportunity policy: A policy ensuring no one is discriminated against.
  • Positive discrimination (chiefly UK): A term with a similar meaning, though often with a more critical connotation.
  • Diversity initiative: A program aimed at increasing representation, which may be a component of affirmative action.
Related Phrases
  • Level the playing field: To create fair and equal conditions for everyone, which is a stated goal of affirmative action.
    • Proponents argue affirmative action helps level the playing field for historically marginalized groups.
  • Quota system: A method often mistakenly equated with affirmative action, involving rigid numerical requirements. Many affirmative action programs explicitly prohibit strict quotas.
Noun
  1. a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities
    • affirmative action has been extremely controversial and was challenged in 1978 in the Bakke decision