What Is Affirmative Action? Definition, How It Works, and Example
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Updated June 30, 2023
Reviewed by CHARLES POTTERS
What Is Affirmative Action?
Affirmative action refers to a policy aimed at increasing workplace and educational opportunities for people who are underrepresented in various areas of our society. It focuses on demographicswith historically low representation in leadership and professional roles. It is often considered a means of countering discrimination against particular groups.
Businesses and governments commonly implement affirmative action programs by taking individuals’ race, sex, religion, or national origin into account when hiring. It has been widely used in education settings in the United States, particularly in college admissions. However, in the 2023 ruling of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard1, the Supreme Court said colleges and universities could no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis for granting admission.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Affirmative action seeks to reverse historical trends of discrimination against individuals with certain identities.
- Policies often implement hiring quotas, provide grants and scholarships, and may also deny government funding and contracts to institutions that fail to follow policy guidelines.
- Affirmative action includes assistance for gender representation, people with disabilities, and covered veterans.
- In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the U.S. Supreme Court held that race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
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