Reverse Discrimination

2 Pages 413 Words

TOM BEAUCHAMP "THE JUSTIFICATION OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION" P.366
First we need to get clear on the distinction between reverse discrimination and affirmative action. This distinction may not be universally recognized, but this is how we will use these phrases. Reverse discrimination is a more radical policy. Affirmative action at a university, for example, involves the following, in employment and admission. (See page 370)
(1) Universities may not advertise positions as open only to or preferentially to a particular race or sex, except where sex is a legitimate occupational requirement.
(2) The university sets standards and criteria for employment, but if these effectively work to exclude women or minorities as a class, the university must justify the job requirements.
(3) An institution may not set different standards of admission for one sex, race, etc.
(4) There must be active recruitment of women and minorities, as gauged by the availability of qualified members of these classes.
However, the relevant government officials have made it clear that
(1) quotas are unacceptable, either for admission or employment.
(2) A university is never under any obligation to dilute legitimate standards, and hence there is no conflict with merit hiring.
(3) Reserving positions for members of a minority group or women is not allowed.
Reverse discrimination goes further than this: it can reserve particular jobs for women and minorities even when other groups could perform the job equally well. It can allow lowering of admission standards for particular groups such as women and minorities and it can allow quotas for admission or employment.
Beauchamp (pronounced Beech-am) argues that reverse discrimination is not inconsistent with plausible principles of justice. His main point is this: even though some injustices can occur as a result of reverse discrimination, when all the pros and cons are considered, it turns out that greater ju...