Affirmative Action
By Mare73
@Mare73 (1335)
United States
May 21, 2008 2:33pm CST
Ok, I hope that this won't turn into some bashing thread...those are NOT my intentions.
Who here is familiar with affirmative action?
For those are not, basically it means that companies (depending on the size) must have a certain percentage of minority people working for them. And by minority I mean race - not women.
Ok moving along...
Do you agree or disagree with affirmative action?
I bring this question up because as some of you may know, I'm getting into photography. Well a certain individual contacted me for a wedding THIS MONDAY (which I'm not doing by the way...) but anywho, he made a comment that I didn't like. He said "We figured since you're Latina we would give you a shot". What the freak???? NO - you give me a shot because of my credentials, skills, abilities not my dang color.
Ok moving along again...
What are your thoughts? I honestly do NOT agree with AA. I think that people outta be hired for whatever job based on their education, experience, qualifications, goals, ambitions, etc...
3 people like this
7 responses
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
21 May 08
I agree with you. When I was doing the hiring at a large company we had to fill out a form after every interview that made us detail the prospective employee's race and gender. And it asked whether they were hired and if not, why not. We were expected/required to hire a certain percentage of minority or disabled (preferably a disabled minority) applicants. Nowhere on this form was a question asking about the applicant's qualifications for the job. I found that very annoying and unfair. I didn't care what color they were or if they had two heads, just whether they could do the job.
I feel the same way about colleges. I think everyone should have the same opportunity for education, regardless of race.
This will probably turn into a controversial topic and wind up deleted, but just had to add my opinion.
3 people like this
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
22 May 08
True. But whether you answer the questions or not, the one filling out the form is the interviewer and that person can guess at ethnicity based on visual and oral impressions. In many cases it's not much of a leap so it really doesn't matter what is on the application. It wasn't the employer's requirement but rather Affirmative Action that forced them to complete this info so they could guarantee compliance.
That whole system needs to be reformed.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 May 08
This is why I have always refused to answer any question regarding race. I either check nothing or if there is an option to state that you aren't going to say, I'll check that. I do not think this plays any role and should not even be asked, even for statistical purposes because you know that somewhere down the line, SOMEBODY is dividing up your paperwork and they take that stupid question into account. I don't mind gender but again if somehow that is going to play into anything unsavory, maybe that shouldn't be listed either! Based on my name, there's no mistaking I am female, so it's kind of silly in my case.
In the case of making sure you have a certain number of disabled applicants, I don't think that's a bad thing, as long as you only need a certain number of applicants. I just disagree that they need to be minority.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
21 May 08
I think that people outta be hired for whatever job based on their education, experience, qualifications, goals, ambitions, etc..
I agree...ppl should be hired for their skills, education etc etc..and i have to say that AA TO ME is NOT how I'd want to get a job..to me that would be a pity position ya know...Its like sympathy dating, ppl who go on dates with a less than desirable person because they feel sorry for them...I'm not in for that whole AA crap, not in the slightest 
3 people like this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 May 08
Yeah, if I ever find out that I was chosen for something or hired because I'm a woman or considered a minority, I'd like to go back and turn it down. I know there are victim people who like to use their status to get things but life is supposed to be an even playing field, people! If you don't measure up, it's not my fault, it's your own.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
21 May 08
I totally agree with you!!! If "minorities" were treated like "regular non-disabled white people" we wouldn't need AA, everyone would be hired on he basis of education, skill, and possibly experience.
I have Asperger's syndrome, am legally blind, and physcially hallenged. Do I want a job because of this, or because of my ABILITIES, of which I have plenty?
I'd rather have a job based on my abilities.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
22 May 08
i dont think it is a bit common in the Philippines, cause its either you are hired by the company in other country and working for a branch here when you are foreign... or you are chinese who was already born and is already a filipino citizen... hehe i think in my case i was hired not because i am chinese, i went through the same process as others have been, interviews, exams, etc...
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 May 08
DISAGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE!!! Against against against! Now that I have your attention, let me state why. Just like you say, people should only qualify for something based on education, experience, skills, knowledge, etc etc. NOTHING else should even come into play, whether that is gender, race, lifestyle, age, I could go on here but I won't. I don't even know who came up with this anyway! Whoever did isn't a very tactful decent person I can tell you that much. It's like legalized discrimination.
1 person likes this
@cathyt1557 (173)
• Canada
22 May 08
I agree with you. I know I would not want to be hired because of my race. It should be because of my ability. In my country the police force has to have affirmative action. So do you want a police officer protecting you having been hired because of his race or would you want someone protecting you because of his skill and credentials? My brother taught police college for two years and they put some people through because of the race and had to bypass a lot of good people who would do a much better job.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
22 May 08
I don't believe in affirmative action because where is the thing about being hired because you are capable of doing the work. That is what I think a person should be hired on. What they can do in regards to the job. I think that is the silliest thing that has come into existence. Because if I was a boss the thing I would be looking at is all the things you mentioned at the end of your discussion. Because I would want people working who knew what they were doing. If a person of minority was qualified than they should get hired. But I don't think they should be hired just because they are in the minority catagory.
