AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

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Affirmative action is a tool designed to expand job and educational opportunities to women and people of color to remedy past and present-day discrimination. The goal is to increase diversity and to help ensure that people who have been traditionally marginalized have the same opportunities as others. Affirmative action tools include outreach, recruitment, training and promotion. Over the past 40 years, affirmative action programs have significantly expanded employment and educational opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups.

Opponents of affirmative action policies argue that affirmative action is reverse discrimination because the policies unfairly benefit individuals based on their gender and racial backgrounds. Some opponents of affirmative action also argue that socio-economic status is just as important – and possibly more important – a factor to consider than gender or racial background, and therefore should be taken into account.

Supporters of affirmative action argue that despite recent progress, women and people of color still do not have full access to resources and opportunities that allow them to participate in society with dignity and equality. They argue that women and people of color still face fewer job and educational opportunities, lower wages and economic uncertainty. Repealing affirmative action programs would reverse hard-fought gains made over the last 40 years. Supporters also point out that not only does affirmative action policies help individuals; they also benefit critical institutions in our society. For example, affirmative action programs help businesses compete in today’s global economy by providing a workforce that reflects the diversity of the country.

YWCA Position
The YWCA supports the maintenance and strengthening of affirmative action laws to protect people from discrimination on the basis of race and gender.