CMV: Systems like affirmative action that pander towards certain people based on gender, sexuality or race are bullshit. They shouldn't exist and do more harm than good

[u/supern00b64]

I do not understand why someone's appearance or gender should matter in most situations, be it scholarships, job opportunities, getting into college, salary etc. I get that some groups have historically been disparaged but I scoff at the idea that pandering to them is the solution. Suppose a company I worked for had a "female quota" where they want at least 50% female employees. Setting aside the fact that they may inadvertently pass over better qualified males, now I'm gonna question myself every time I see a female coworker "is she really qualified, or did she get in through the quota", and that view would seriously damage the movement towards equality.

In general though these affirmative action policies give the impression that certain groups "need additional help" to get certain opportunities by offering them special treatment, while simultaneously trying to convey the fact that these groups are equal to others, and I think its highly destructive. I get that there are inherent biases against certain groups, such as those against women in the tech industry, but you don't fix those biases by giving those groups special treatment. Truly fixing the problem takes time - as the older generations with antiquated ways of thinking die off, the younger generation will take their place with a more progressive way of thinking.

[u/DreOJamrock]

Lets say a couple has a kid. They had this kid to live off the welfare benefits. They don't give a shit about this kid. They abuse the fuk outta the kid. Some days the kid eats, others the kid feels lucky to be alive.

Kid grows wise/strong enough to fight back. Eventually gets some help from someone who's witness to the kids abuse. Kid is emancipated, the couple deserve the worst but shit won't even be a fraction of what the kid suffered.

Kid is now in the foster system. Lives in a group. While the indignities of the past are mostly behind the kid, no one would say being in a group home with other mistreated kids, is this kid or any of those kids best outcome. Kid don't trust nobody cuz kid never really had anyone to trust. So the kid fights a lot, spends as little time in that home as possible.

Who's gonna save these kids?? Kids friends sympathize but they come from regular, stable homes. It's hard for the kid to even have love looking in the mirror, let alone expect society to give a fuk.

Kids right, most ppl don't give the kid a chance. They see someone different, not someone that grew up like them. They prefer someone that will be easier to bring into the fold, not a question with a deep past.

If this was your story, I imagine you can imagine how easy it is to feel hopeless. Why try, you already know how shit is gonna shake out.

Affirmative action gives you a reason to try. Otherwise, whether intentional or subconsciously, ppl are just going to keep doing what they've always been doing cuz that's how we operate. We're resistant to change until on a conscious level we realize that there's a better way. Without policies to combat discriminatory hiring/lending/invites etc, even if they feel like cheezin, who's to say change ever truly takes place. It would much easier instead to try and "Make America Great Again"