Thursday, March 31, 2011

Everything I should have said in class...

The first week of blogs I actually wrote a post about affirmative action and my thoughts about it, and I am glad we got a chance to talk about it in class to gather others' opinions. This legislation was really put into practice in the mid seventies. This was obviously controversial then, as it is now. The main justification for this legislation was to 'level the playing field' as an attempt to make up for years of oppression of minorities by white privileged males. This was especially needed when it was passed. I get that. It is important. But there are a lot of issues and points brought out in class today that I would like to address.

This legislation is a band-aid. The only real way to end inequality on the playing field is to change peoples' minds, their beliefs, and how they view ethnicity and race. Like I said on Tuesday, there really isn’t a full proof way to go about this. If I introduce a friend and mention their race, that is not good because it is drawing attention to their 'otherness' or inferring their belonging to a certain race means they are not the norm. However, if you do not mention their race, you are ignoring their individual culture, and personal struggle, or the fact that they identify with that group. Hiring someone because of affirmative action is essentially the same thing as introducing someone as your Asian friend, or your black friend, except it is your Asian employee or black employee. I realize that color blinding is not an answer but I see nothing wrong with seeing all colors as human beings. Not blinding myself to cultural difference, but not seeing anyone – black, white, yellow, red, green, purple, whatever – as anything above or below me. I also liked Jeff’s point that our main goal as a society should be to level the players not the playing field. Like Pete, my family is very involved with law enforcement and my family has been directly effected by quota legislation. I don’t see how a more qualified individual can lawfully loose a job to a less qualified individual and call it justice. I don’t see how more discrimination can serve as an end to discrimination. All we are doing is shifting the target group. Leveling the playing field is a process that needs to be addressed from the bottom up. Heavy legislation requiring people to hire this many black people and that many women, do not prove anything. As a woman, this legislation affects me, and to be honest, I would take it as an insult to be given a job over a more qualified male. Maybe it is my pride, but I would take it as a handout saying good job, you couldn’t do it on your own, but the government will help you out anyway. I realize I am from an upper-middle class suburban neighborhood and have been given a lot of opportunities. I cannot complain. But maybe that is an indication that more stress should be put on economic status, rather than racial/gender differences.

Meredith Cotter, Post #15

2 comments:

  1. "The only real way to end inequality on the playing field is to change peoples' minds, their beliefs, and how they view ethnicity and race."

    Is it only about changing people's attitudes or, more importantly, is it about finding a way to redistribute society's resources so that these resources are shared more equitably?

    Also, what is the difference between leveling the playing field versus leveling the players? I'm not sure I understand the distinction that is being made here. Can someone clarify this point for us?

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  2. I feel that people had a more open mind approach to racial issues (for example, all races as equal as human beings; color does not constitute superiority or inferiority) a more equal distribution of resources would happen naturally. A piece of legislation can't change it because it has to occur in the mindset of people. As long as there is legislation singling out a certain group on the basis of race/gender, there will be resentment from some direction, therefore the problem is not really being solved because a hateful/discriminatory mindset is being maintained.

    As for the comment about leveling the players and not so much the playing field, means that we shouldn't be lowering standards to appease a quota system. Lets make is so all people can meet those high standards. Whichever person, no matter their color or gender, who is most qualified for a job should get it. I do not see the justice, or honor, in getting a job that you ultimately should not have gotten if you were a white man. It makes it seem as though the position was given and not earned. Instead, we should try to level the players in trying to give each individual support and opportunities from the start, not just when they are applying for a job. This way, all colors will be on the same 'playing field' when applying and the people who register as most competent will get the job. That way there will be no cause for complaints on either end.

    I feel as though this change needs to occur from the bottom up, and start with education and a change in mindset.

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