Job Descrimination Work Force Essay Research Paper

Job Descrimination Work Force Essay, Research Paper

Job descrimination work forceIn recent years preferential hiring has become an issueof great interest. Preferential hiring, which was devised tocreate harmony between the different races and sexes, has dividedthe lines even more. Supporters on both sides seem fixed intheir positions and often refuse to listen to the other group splatform. In this essay, the recipients of preferential hiringwill be either black or female, and the position in question willbe a professorship on the university level. The hirings inquestion are cases that involve several candidates, all roughlyequal in their qualifications (including experience, education,people skills, etc.), with the only difference being race and/orsex. What we have here is a case of predetermined preference. The two candidates in question are equal in all ways, except race. The black applicant is selected, not because of skills orqualifications (in that case the white man would have providedthe same result), but for his skin color. This seems to be blatantdiscrimination, but many believe it is justified. Some feelretribution for years of discrimination is reason enough, but thatissue will be discussed later. First, lets focus on why this isnot a solution to creating an unbiased society. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream: “I have a dream thatmy four little children will one day live in a nation where theywill not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the contentof their character.” He desired a world without discrimination,without prejudice, and without stereotypes. The fundamental lessonyears of discrimination should have taught is that to give anyonepreference based on skin color, sex, or religious beliefs is, inone word, wrong. As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, judgment basedon skin color must not exist. All preferential hiring does iskeep judgments based on skin color alive. Race and sex should notbe issues in today s society, yet preferential hiring continues tomake these factors issues by treating minorities as a group ratherthan as individuals. More importantly preferential hiring mayactually fuel, rather than extinguish, feelings of racial hostility. Applying the concept of preferential hiring to anothersituation may help elucidate its shortcomings. A party of whitemen and a party of black men both arrive at a restaurant at the sametime and only one table is free. The headwaiter can only seat oneparty and must make a decision. According to preferential hiringtheory it is necessary to seat the black party first, sincehistorically blacks have been discriminated against when seatedin restaurants. In another situation, a white man and a black manare both equidistant from the last seat on the bus. Both men arethe same age, have no medical problems, and are equal in all waysexcept skin color. Should the black man get the seat since in thepast black men have been discriminated against. We could continuethis practice for several centuries before the debt we owe fordepriving blacks of a seat on the bus would be paid. Perhaps theseexamples are invalid. It could be said that jobs are a differentissue. They help define social status and provide economicwell-being. They might even boost self-confidence, something thatdiscrimination has stolen. Two points must be considered before moving any further. First, blacks may learn better from a black, and women may learnbetter from a woman. Second, hiring women and blacks will providerole models for others. The first point Thomson quickly concedesas likely to be false. Discussion about the second point howeveris required, and will, in effect, serve to negate the first pointas well. First, lets create a character, Bill. Bill is grosslyoverweight and unattractive. Studies have shown that many employersdiscriminate (whether subconsciously or not), against both overweightand unattractive individuals. Unfortunately for Bill, he fits intoboth categories. His inability to land a job reflective of hisabilities, coupled with years of public humiliation through jokesmade at his expense, has destroyed his self-esteem. This has causedhim to accept as fact the notion that he will never be able to reachhis goals. Few “Bill” success stories exist, only further plummetinghis self-confidence. This example sounds strikingly similar to a common argumentfor preferential hiring. I have been discriminated against, whichhas caused my self esteem to fall, and now I am stuck, with few rolemodels to follow. Bill s success has probably been thwarted by moresources than the today s average black or female, but there is noprovision in preferential hiring for him. Just like no one cancontrol their race or skin color, Bill s obesity is caused by amedical problem beyond treatment. Selective preferential hiringwon t work. Even if one doesn t accept the fact that preferentialhiring discriminates against the white male, one must accept thefact that preferential hiring discriminates against Bill. Now let s assume that this argumentation is invalid for onereason or another. Let s assume the lack of self-confidence andself-respect that today s blacks and women are suffering from maydeserve some compensation. But before continuing, it seems necessaryto narrow the range of who qualifies for compensation for suffering. The issue at hand concerns today s blacks and today s women. Today ssociety is not responsible for incidents preceding its own existence. Other opinions may not coi