Affirmative action is generally defined as what?

Affirmative action is generally defined as what?

• A. generally defined as actions taken to overcome barriers to equal employment opportunities and to remedy the effects of past discrimination.
• B. an approach to arbitrarily promote some groups over others.
• C. an initiative to reduce wages for protected classes.
• D. an effort to eliminate merit from hiring practices.

Answer: (A)

Affirmative action focuses on creating equal employment opportunities by removing barriers and addressing the lingering effects of past discrimination. It involves proactive steps to ensure historically disadvantaged groups can compete fairly for jobs and advancement, often through outreach, training, and considering applicants’ backgrounds within legal and merit-based guidelines. It is not about arbitrarily promoting some groups, reducing wages, or eliminating merit; those ideas conflict with the purpose and typical practice of affirmative action, which aims to correct inequities while upholding standards.

Affirmative action focuses on creating equal employment opportunities by removing barriers and addressing the lingering effects of past discrimination. It involves proactive steps to ensure historically disadvantaged groups can compete fairly for jobs and advancement, often through outreach, training, and considering applicants’ backgrounds within legal and merit-based guidelines. It is not about arbitrarily promoting some groups, reducing wages, or eliminating merit; those ideas conflict with the purpose and typical practice of affirmative action, which aims to correct inequities while upholding standards.