Final answer:
Affirmative action is a policy aimed at increasing opportunities for disadvantaged minority groups by implementing proactive measures in hiring and education. It originated from laws and orders to combat discrimination and correct past injustices, but it is controversial due to differing views on fairness, reverse discrimination, and diversity goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Definition and Purpose of Affirmative Action:
Affirmative action is a policy designed to increase opportunities for historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups primarily through measures in hiring, education, and promotion. The concept originated from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 11246 to prevent ongoing discrimination and to rectify the long-term effects of historical injustices against certain minority groups. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces these policies, particularly towards federal contractors who are bound to them by law following a lost discrimination lawsuit.
Existence and Controversy:
Why does it exist? Affirmative action exists to address and correct the disadvantages experienced by minority groups due to past and present discrimination. It is aimed at leveling the playing field and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background.Why is it so controversial? There is significant debate over affirmative action because it challenges long-standing norms and generates disagreement over its implications for fairness and merit. Opponents argue that it may result in reverse discrimination, while supporters believe it is an essential tool to foster diversity and inclusion, in response to the increasingly diverse workforce in the United States, which includes rising proportions of racial and ethnic minorities and women climbing the career ladders.