Affirmative Action

The United States is a country with a very complicated history. It has included many great achievements, but it has also seen discrimination and prejudice. Most notably, the discrimination has been directed against African-Americans and women. Laws have been passed to make illegal this discrimination based on race, gender, age, and religion. Unfortunately, these laws have not been completely sufficient in reversing the trend of discrimination in the workplace.

Affirmative action laws seek to balance out the inequalities in the workforce that centuries of discrimination have brought about. They are an attempt to level the playing field, and they are very controversial.

There are a handful of laws dealing with discrimination in the workplace, ranging from Civil Rights Acts in the 60s and 90s to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Additionally, a Supreme Court decision in 2003 stated that colleges and universities could take race into account for admissions decisions.

There are many people who argue that affirmative action is ineffective. They say that it devalues the accomplishments of minority and non-minority workers, perpetuates the divide between minorities and non-minorities, and creates new social injustices. Regardless of your personal stance on affirmative action, it must be agreed that the sentiment behind the regulations is valuable, as social inequity is a pressing issue that must be addressed.

Contact Us,

If you have questions about affirmative action, or feel that you may have been discriminated against in your workplace, contact the experienced Austin labor attorneys of Melton & Kumler at 512-330-0017.