What is discrimination and affirmative action?

What is Discrimination and Affirmative Action?
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What is Discrimination and Affirmative Action?
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of a person or a group based on specific characteristics that may include gender, race, or sexual orientation. On the other hand, affirmative action encompasses measures put in place in the allocation of resources through a process that will ensure consideration of underrepresented groups such as the minority and women. The contemporary debate about discrimination based on race and gender is far from over as each side feel distressed by the arguments of their opponents. Mainly, minorities argue that unlawful discrimination has continued for decades because the white majority has used the opportunity to advance their interests at the expense of the minority. Discrimination and affirmative action, as this essay will prove, are still issues of contention, and understanding their history will help one comprehend the policies put in place as their remedy.
Discrimination
The history of discrimination is traced back to the seventeenth century after blacks were brought to the United States and sold as slaves to work in plantations. Slavery intensified following the U.S Supreme Court ruling in the Dred Scott v. Sanford, which legitimized slavery (Williams, 2017). The Court decision infuriated African Americans, and it led to the Civil War which pitted the North Unionists led by Lincoln and the South Confederates led by Lee.

Significant milestones were achieved following the Civil War, including the enactment of the Fourteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery. However, it was not a reprieve for minorities, especially in the South because they faced systemic discrimination, and people of African descent were subjected to separate treatment from their White counterparts (Arcidiacono & Lovenheim, 2016). For instance, minority groups attended schools that were poorly funded, and they worked under harsh conditions without compensation.
Similarly, as African Americans were facing discriminatory practices, women were also subjected to prejudice, as they were not allowed universal suffrage. Moreover, they had been limited with opportunities in education and occupations, and they were required to be subjected to their husbands and surrender their properties upon marriage (Williams, 2017). It was until the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century that the war against inequity was intensified. Although today one cannot conclude that discrimination is a thing of the past, there has been drastic measures through affirmative action.
Affirmative Action
The concept of affirmative action first emerged in the 1930s in the context of labor law, but it was until the 1960s when it had an impact. Affirmative action was embraced as a remedy to racial and gender prejudice when women and African Americans wanted equal treatment in the labor and education markets (Arcidiacono & Lovenheim, 2016). Remarkably, the demands of African Americans and women were opposed and even after President Kennedy’s Executive order of 1961, which aimed at ending discrimination at workplaces, it did not succeed. When the Executive Order could not provide a resolution, the President proposed the Civil Rights legislation, which was passed in 1964 after his assassination. The Act not only prohibited discrimination at the place of work but also in public areas and schools. Mainly, Title VI and VII of the Act enforced affirmative action measures, which were the first steps to triumph over the effects of prejudice (Williams, 2017). Decades later, African Americans and women in the United States have equal opportunities in education and employment, and although there are still cases of racial and gender inequality, the labor market and the education sector are competitive; hence, encouraging individuals regardless of their race or gender be active participants.
Policies that Help with Discrimination and Affirmative Action
Systems that have been created to help with prejudice and affirmative action over the years range from Executive Orders to Enactments. For instance, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides for the prohibition of employers from discrimination based on race or color (Arcidiacono& Lovenheim, 2016). Also, Executive Order 11246 was introduced to ensure proactive policies that support affirmative action and compliance with non-discriminatory practices. Moreover, equal-protection laws have also been enacted to make discrimination illegal.
Conclusion
Despite efforts to end discrimination, it still exists in the American society. Inequality is especially seen in housing patterns and employment opportunities. The only reprieve for the affected persons and groups is the legal frameworks that have been created to address the issue.

References
Arcidiacono, P., & Lovenheim, M. (2016). Affirmative action and the quality-fit trade-off. Journal of Economic Literature, 54(1), 3-51.
Williams, K. (2017). Affirmative Action in the United States. Revista Direitos Fundamentais e Alteridade, 1(1), 43-49.