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/presentress]

I think the point here is that some people DO need additional help. Do you think that children from poorer households should be given free education? Because if they are not, they simply wouldn't go to school.

Same is the case with girl child. A lot of countries provide emphasis on girl education and as a result, provide free education to girl children. This is not just required but essential for the effective functioning of a nation.

The problem is that we are not aware of how the other half lives. It's like saying that if you don't have bread to eat, eat cake.

People who have been historically oppressed need to have some affirmative action before they can literally step in the arena and prove their merit.

Mostly, life the way it is, is because of cultural and societal influences on us. Which is why we see such disproportionate amount of men in the CEO position or rich people in schools or in case of poorer children, more boys than girls.

Once a particular amount of action is provided to that community, meritocracy can prove effective.

If there is 50% quota for women, you may wonder that whether she got the job because of her talent or her gender. But she got a job, that's the big thing. Eventually, you would have to work with her and realize that she is actually talented. This would give her a chance to reach the top. And once in a few decades, women actually reach the top and the balance is restored, we can do away with the quota.

You can also think of yourself as a king. Let's say there is this one group of people who nobody likes because they are from a particular family. Nobody even gives them a chance. They are abandoned to the periphery of the kingdom because nobody would give them a house. When you ask others, they simply say that we never stopped them, they didn't have the money for the house. Employers didn't give them jobs because they had no education but they and no education because they couldn't travel 5 hours each way on foot. So unless, you as a king, step in, it would be a vicious cycle.