Final answer:
Affirmative action aims to assist underrepresented groups and seeks to provide equal opportunities in society. Although it has faced criticism, its effects on dominant majority groups are generally small and are balanced against the benefits it provides to minorities and women. Therefore, the statement cannot be deemed entirely True or False without a nuanced consideration of the outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Affirmative action programs are policies that actively support members of historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups in areas such as education, employment, and government contracting. The question of whether affirmative action programs disadvantage those in dominant majority groups can be multifaceted. Historically, affirmative action has been shown to have relatively small effects on the majority but can cause substantial relative shifts for minority groups. Although there may be perceived costs for white males and concerns of reverse discrimination, the performance of employees hired under affirmative action is reported to be equal to their counterparts.
Furthermore, affirmative action has enhanced the diversity of the workforce and has been a way of addressing past discrimination against women and minorities. While it has succeeded in increasing the graduation rates from selective institutions amongst underrepresented minority groups, affirmative action has faced legal challenges and modifications over time. One key point is that minorities or women who benefit from affirmative action and have equal performance to others have historically faced stereotype-driven perceptions of being less qualified.
There are strong arguments both in favor of and against affirmative action. Those in favor argue that affirmative action equalizes opportunities and improves societal equity and efficiency, while opponents cite efficiency losses and inherent discrimination within the policy itself. Ultimately, the goal of affirmative action is to aid in creating an equal playing field for all individuals, regardless of their background.
Therefore, to answer the statement 'Affirmative action programs disadvantage those in dominant majority groups,' given the context and complexity of the subject, it can neither be flatly labeled as True or False; it requires a nuanced understanding of its impact on various groups and society as a whole.