Reverse discrimination, a relatively new concept, is discrimination against a dominant or a majority group and in favor of a minority or disadvantaged group. Here, the groups can be distinguished as a different ethnicity, race, religion or gender.
Sometimes, organizations have a
certain quota for ethnic employees which they have to fill. In this
case, an applicant belonging to a certain Ethnic group or race is
given preference, even if he or she may be less qualified than any
other applicants. The main reason behind creating a quota for the
minority groups is so that there is equal opportunity for all groups
and races; however, with a certain quota, often a less qualified
applicant is accepted for a designation that he or she might not be
able to handle.
The same rule is applicable for
educational institutes also. In an attempt to increase diversity
among the students, many universities and colleges have a quota to
fill with African-America, Asian, African and Hispanic students,
beside the usual Caucasian scholars. Though it certainly succeeds in
creating a diverse student body, many able Caucasian, or White,
students are often denied their choice of subject as the quota for
that subject has already been fulfilled.
It is also said that students from
the minority groups easily get admission into college so that the
institutions can boast of their diversified student body. The same
rules also apply in case of professional sports too.
Though reverse discrimination is
mostly seen in the field of race or ethnicity, it is also noticed in
the cases of sex or gender too.
Just as with racial reverse
discrimination, some organizations have a quota for a certain number
of female employees to be hired in the top management positions of
the country. These top female executives can either he headhunted or
promoted from the lower designations of the organization. In many
cases, in order to fill the quotas of the female top management
employees, capable male applicants are passed over to give the
position to female employees who may not be up to the mark. In some careers this is not possible. Consider how many years it takes to become a medical assistant versus a hospital administrator: 2 years vs 6 years. How can an assistant, who has limited knowledge of a practice, be picked over someone who has 4 more years of education, not to mention experience?
The Feminist Movement is one of the
most famous examples of reverse gender discrimination. Since all
walks of life, from work to home, gives more importance to male than
the female population, the women who are feminists or who follow
Feminism demand that the female face is superior to men and should be
treated so. Feminists not only demand equal rights as their male
counterparts, but sometimes more rights and liberties.
The United States government is so
focused on assuring the rights of the minority groups, that a portion
of the majority group, namely the White feel like, at times, they are
being discriminated against. According to them, discrimination
against the White also exists in the US. An example as such is a
lawsuit filed by Mr. Mark Hillaker Jr., an environmental technician
at Hurley Medical Center, on grounds that he is being discriminated
against because he is White.
Other such examples of lawsuits
exist in the United States, where individuals belonging to a majority
group or a man have filed lawsuits against discrimination.
Reverse Discrimination is a term
that has caused mixed feeling among all communities. Although having
a specific quota for female employees or a minority student quota is
sometimes helpful and welcome, according to some, discrimination is
discrimination and it is never a good thing. Discrimination against
the majority is as bad as discrimination against the minority.
Therefore, while reverse discrimination sometimes gives a false sense
of security to women or minorities, it is nevertheless unfair and
unwelcome to many.
