By Shirley Peterson


Human beings are tribal by nature. The instinct to seek out a tribe and see outsiders as some great other is intrinsic in most people. But this instinct leads to discrimination, it leads to a less egalitarian world where the color of the skin can decide the kind of opportunities a person receive despite academic accomplishments. To combat this, many companies have plans for AAP compliance.

An AAP is an affirmative action plan. An AAP is the way a company plans to combat the historical discrimination experienced by certain groups. The main thrust of affirmative action is to be conscious of giving applicants of color the same shot that more privileged applicants receive, whether it be for employment or education, as applicants of color historically get the short end of the stick for no reason other than having ancestors who were forced to pick cotton in a plantation.

A company can have an affirmative action plan for a variety of reasons. Maybe someone in charge manage to rise up through the ranks and create systemic change. Maybe the company was mandated to do so by the government.

Policies to be more objective are still needed. Life and media consumed are always going to affect how a person perceives the world and society by extent. The tribal instinct in man is always an omnipresent threat to fairness, especially if nurtured, as people are more reluctant to hire those who they perceive as different.

Bias also continues to affect admittance into higher learning institutions. Some students, particularly those with less melanin or those from a model minority, have an easier time getting in than equally accomplished students with darker complexions. There is a persistent belief that some universities outright reserve spots for minority students, in order to meet affirmative action quotas. Privileged students who are denied entry sometimes blame this supposed quota for falling short.

Having an AAP in place does not guarantee that more racial or ethnic minorities will be hired. But it does help more people from marginalized groups to find employment. By mandating that race or ethnicity not be considered in the hiring process, it makes the employment process a little more color blind.

Women also benefit from policies explicitly forbidding discriminatory hiring practices. Many men and even some women view female workers as being less efficient than male workers. The belief is that women are too emotional to do the work or that their looks will distract male coworkers, thus lowering overall productivity. There is even the belief that women in the workforce will only remain there as long as motherhood is off the table, that the women will leave once they have birthed children. Having a policy, an actual rule, in place will make it easier for a woman to enter the workforce.

It is unfortunate that affirmative action is still necessary. But the world continues to make it so. People are also going to think badly of people of color and of women, which is going to limit opportunities for both groups.

It is unfortunate that policies mandating equality have to be put in place, that a point of view without discrimination is not the default. But no one ever said that the world was fair. So long as there is discrimination on a societal level, affirmative action will continue to be necessary.




About the Author:



Axact

Money Making

I am passionate about educating university students about money and careers, and have been doing so since 2007. I see the same confusion and mistakes being replicated every year. The way I help is through Save the Student. I'm always on the look out for new contributors, so get in touch if you're wanting to get involved! Aside from the site, my main interests are travelling, writing, photography, webdesign, sailing, football and cycling.

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