Final answer:
Under affirmative action laws, men are not considered a historically disadvantaged group meant to be assisted by these policies, which are designed to improve opportunities for women and minorities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Affirmative action planning starts with evaluating the workforce and the community to improve employment, educational, and other opportunities for those who have been historically underrepresented or discriminated against. When identifying historically disadvantaged groups under this law, all of the following categories are considered except for one, which is not: Asians, people with disabilities, African Americans, and men. The group that is not historically considered disadvantaged for the purposes of affirmative action are men, as affirmative action policies are designed to address disparities that affect women and racial or ethnic minorities.
Despite this, every group, including Asians and people with disabilities, has faced challenges. For instance, while African Americans and other minorities have faced direct discrimination, some argue that affirmative action benefits can extend to ethnic minorities from affluent backgrounds. Conversely, socioeconomic challenges are issues faced by some White and Asian Americans from low-income backgrounds.