Affirmative Action Beyond Politics: Real-world Impact?
TITLE
‘Affirmative Action in the 1980s was much more than just a political slogan.
ESSAY
Title: The Impact and Limitations of Affirmative Action in the 1980s
Introduction:
Affirmative Action in the 1980s was a policy aimed at addressing historical racial and gender disparities in education and employment. While some argue that it was merely a political slogan, evidence suggests that it had a significant impact on society. However, its effectiveness was limited by challenges, criticisms, and social pressures.
Body:
1. Public support and belief in the importance of Affirmative Action:
- The US Commission on Civil Rights endorsed Affirmative Action as a key mechanism for achieving social progress.
- In a 1987 poll, a significant majority of black Americans (87%) and a notable proportion of white Americans (55%) approved of the policy.
- The widespread public belief in the necessity of Affirmative Action suggests that it transcended being a mere political slogan.
2. Educational advancements through Affirmative Action:
- Affirmative Action played a crucial role in reducing racial segregation in education.
- Between 1968 and 1988, the percentage of black students attending schools with over 90% black students decreased from 64% to 32%.
- This progress indicates that Affirmative Action had a tangible impact on fostering integration and equal educational opportunities.
3. Limited changes in employment and professional representation:
- Affirmative Action requirements led to increased diversity in federal contractors and public office positions.
- However, high-level executive roles with substantial pay were still predominantly held by white men.
- Gender disparities persisted, as shown by less than 20% of board positions being occupied by women in the next century.
- While Affirmative Action facilitated some improvements, significant inequities in employment and wages remained.
4. Effectiveness and limitations of Affirmative Action:
- Critics alleged reverse discrimination and unsuitable candidates benefiting from Affirmative Action.
- Limited impact is evident in the fact that even 40 years later, a majority of students (53%) attended schools with significant racial segregation.
- Compliance reviews and social pressures undermined the full potential of Affirmative Action.
- The policy had a more substantial impact on supporting African and Native Americans compared to Asian or Hispanic Americans, and progress for women was gradual and restricted by deeply ingrained biases.
5. Need for specific measures and enforcement:
- A 1989 study suggested that Affirmative Action lacked efficacy without precise quotas or sanctions.
- Women had better opportunities in larger companies with HR departments taking affirmative action seriously.
- However, overall gains were limited, and the impact of Affirmative Action was uncertain without strict enforcement measures.
Conclusion:
Affirmative Action in the 1980s was more than a mere political slogan, as it garnered significant public support and belief in its importance. The policy brought about positive changes in educational integration, diversification of federal contractors, and increased opportunities for some underrepresented groups. However, the impact was limited due to challenges, criticisms, and social pressures. Further measures and precise enforcement were necessary to overcome the persisting racial and gender disparities.
SUBJECT
HISTORY
PAPER
A Level
NOTES
‘Affirmative Action in the 1980s was much more than just a political slogan.’ Assess this view. The US Commission on Civil Rights stated clearly in 1981 that Affirmative Action was a major way to make social progress and produced detailed reports on the need for positive discrimination. Though there were challenges and criticisms and hostility from conservatives, public belief in the need for Affirmative Action remained constant. In a 1987 poll, 87% of black Americans approved and 55% of Whites. So, in terms of belief in the policy and its importance, it was more than a political slogan and there was a view that it did achieve results. One of the more encouraging statistics was that affirmative action to end racial segregation in education – a key element for the long-term future of the US was that in 1968 64% of black students attended schools where over 90% of students were black, whereas in 1988 this had fallen to 32%. The requirements for affirmative action in education and in employment did result in some change - particularly in the case of federal contractors and in public office there was more diversity. However, the shifts in public awareness and in expectations that minorities and women might aspire to better education and more higher-level employment were probably greater than actual change. Though critics alleged that there had been reverse discrimination and that unsuitable candidates had been given college places and higher-level posts – in a way arguing that it was more than a political slogan and had negative effects – the evidence suggests limited impact. Even forty years later 53% of students were in schools where 75% of their fellows were white or black. Executive posts and higher paid jobs were predominantly held by white men. Even by the next century under 20% of board posts were held by women and wage rates remained startlingly unequal. A study of 1989 suggested that without sanctions or precise quotas Affirmative Action was ineffective. For women opportunities were greater in larger companies with HR departments alert to the need or compliance; but compliance reviews did not have any great consequences. Where women gained more opportunities were in white collar work in larger firms, but overall gains were limited and some of the changes might have occurred without Affirmative Action which was hard to enforce and coming under critical disapproval. Social pressures such as opposition to minorities coming into ‘white’ areas played a role in undermining efforts. The impact of Affirmative Action was more marked in supporting African and Native Americans than Asian or Hispanic Americans, while women could not achieve the Equal Rights Amendment or overcome ingrained restrictions even when there appeared to be more progress.