Question

1. what factors likely contribute to common, erroneous beliefs about affirmative action, even among intended beneficiaries?

2.how do perceptions that minorities contrast with research indicating that unqualified whites are sometimes chosen over qualified blacks?

Answer 1

1. “What factors likely contribute to common, erroneous beliefs about affirmative action, even among intended beneficiaries?”

Affirmative action means giving preferential treatment to minorities in admission to universities or employment in private or government organizations. It refers to a range of policies developed to correct the decades of discrimination and to give the disadvantaged minorities a boost to increase their overall quality of life. The people in favor of the affirmative action state that the diversity in American society today gives a fair indication of the success of the program. The critics feel that the policies were never needed and have added to the problems rather than solve them.

The erroneous beliefs about affirmative action are as follows:

• Affirmative action is racist by actively disadvantaging white people.
• Further, there is a belief that minority hired under AA are less qualified and competent than others. There is also a misconception about the process used to hire under affirmative action.
• The conservative’s feel that the affirmative action will be giving preference to rich minorities over the poor white applicants.
• The conservatives feel that it lowers standards as the statistics show that in a six-year education program pass out graduates are 62% for whites, 51% Latinos and 40% African Americans
• Some feel that it promotes a truly color-blind society where the notion that blacks are inferior is reinstated by the affirmative action.
• Further, it undermines the minority achievement and many feel that minority achievements are demeaned by Affirmative action. In some cases, the blacks also find it derogatory and demeaning.

2. “How do perceptions that minorities contrast with research indicating that unqualified whites are sometimes chosen over qualified blacks?”

There is a common perception that unqualified whites are chosen over qualified blacks. This perception matches the research finding too. Researchers also found that under qualified and equally qualified whites were considered above the black minorities. The studies carried out by Art Brief and his colleague indicates that when instructed to discriminate under the disguise of “business justifications” the research subjects did so. They rated black candidates lower than the white equally qualified candidates. The more disturbing statistics was that when giving the justification of business some researchers also chose under qualified whites above qualified blacks. Education can be used to reduce resistance against diversity efforts.