Final answer:
Reverse discrimination is the term used to describe the perception that affirmative action programs discriminate against non-minorities. Despite its goal of leveling the playing field, affirmative action has been subject to legal challenges and criticism for potentially disadvantaging non-minority applicants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charge that some affirmative action programs discriminate against non-minorities is referred to as reverse discrimination. Affirmative action policies were established as proactive efforts to correct historic patterns of discrimination by actively recruiting minority candidates and considering diversity as a positive attribute in the hiring process. However, these policies have often been contentious, leading to backlash from those believing affirmative action results in unfair disadvantages for non-minority candidates, as seen in cases involving hiring quotas or slots set aside for minority individuals.
While affirmative action aims to level the playing field and ensure representation aligning with demographic realities, the criticism often centers around the impact on individual non-minority applicants who might face reduced opportunities due to these policies. This has led to legal challenges and rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court against certain forms of affirmative action mandates imposed by states. In the contemporary context, affirmative action is primarily applied to federal contractors mandated by federal law and enforced by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).