Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies intended to promote access to education or employment for discriminated groups (e.g. minority men or women of all races). Motivation for affirmative action policies is to redress the effects of past and current discrimination and to encourage public institutions such as universities, hospitals and police forces to be more representative of the population. This is commonly achieved through targeted recruitment programs, by preferential treatment given to applicants from socio-politically disadvantaged groups and in some cases through the use of quotas.
Opponents of affirmative action policies argue that it is based on collectivism and merely another form of discrimination. According to critics, affirmative action can result in qualified applicants being denied entry to higher education or employment because they belong to a particular social group (usually the historically socio-politically dominant group; typically majority races and men, regardless of social standing or financial need.) Other opponents say that affirmative action devalues the accomplishments of people who are chosen because of the social group they belong to rather than their qualifications.