Affirmative Action in the Workplace

Affirmative action is a term that refers to institutional programs or policies designed to create equal opportunities for women and racial minorities in areas where they have traditionally been denied access. Although the term itself is relatively new, the idea behind the intent of the concept is not. For much of U.S. history, women and minorities were relegated to second-hand citizenship and treated as inferior beings in comparison with White men. They were denied access to employment, educational, political, and even social opportunities that were typically held by and reserved for White men. Even though much has changed during the past 50 or so years, affirmative action continues to draw major debates as to its usefulness during the post-civil rights era. This entry describes the historic context of discrimination, the advent of affirmative action, and the more recent retreat from these advances.