Question 1

Courts around the world have generally ______________ the concept of affirmative action/position action programs as an acceptable tool in the struggle to eliminate discrimination in employment.

Accepted Answer

Courts around the world have generally supported the concept of affirmative action/position action programs as an acceptable tool in the struggle to eliminate discrimination in employment. While there is debate about the extent and scope of such programs, courts have generally recognized the importance of addressing past discrimination and promoting diversity in the workplace.

Question 2

The Government of Ireland Act of 1920 was the only legal protection against ____________for the citizens of Northern Ireland.

Accepted Answer

The Government of Ireland Act of 1920 provided for partition of Ireland and the creation of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. It also established a devolved government for Northern Ireland, which gave the majority Protestant community control over local affairs. This, in effect, institutionalized discrimination against the minority Catholic population, who were denied representation and access to political power. Religious discrimination was therefore the only legal protection provided by the Act for the citizens of Northern Ireland. Although gender and color discrimination also existed in Northern Ireland, they were not explicitly addressed in the Act.

Question 3

In India, the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 states that affirmative action legislation:

Accepted Answer

The Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 in India mandates that every appropriate government must appoint a percentage of vacancies of not less than 3% for persons or class of persons with disability. This is a form of affirmative action in order to promote equality and ensure job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Question 4

Social policies that aim to change the rules and provide advantages to groups that have traditionally been discriminated against are considered _____________ social guidelines.

Accepted Answer

Social policies that aim to change the rules and provide advantages to groups that have traditionally been discriminated against are considered positive social guidelines. They are called positive because they seek to address historical inequalities and promote greater social justice.

Question 5

In Europe, social policies that aim to change the rules and provide advantages to groups that have traditionally been discriminated are called:

Accepted Answer

In Europe, the term "Positive Action" is commonly used to describe social policies designed to change rules and provide advantages to groups that have traditionally faced discrimination. This contrasts with the term "Affirmative Action" used in the United States.

Question 6

Australia's Affirmative Action Act of 1999 requires:

Accepted Answer

The Affirmative Action Act of 1999 in Australia requires equal opportunities for women in the workplace, but it does not explicitly require the social wealth of the country to be equally distributed, equalized religious representation in the workplace, or actively recruiting minorities to the workplace.

Question 7

In Malaysia, the affirmative action policies enacted after the 1969 race riots between the majority Malays and the minority ethnic Chinese Malays have come under attack in recent years for:

Accepted Answer

The affirmative action policies in Malaysia, designed to uplift the majority Malays economically and educationally, have been criticized for potentially slowing down the country's economic development. Critics argue that these policies, by prioritizing ethnic Malays in various sectors, may not always align with merit or market efficiency, thus impacting overall economic growth.

Question 8

In the United States, social policies that aim to change the rules and provide advantages to groups that have traditionally been discriminated against are called:

Accepted Answer

The term used in the United States to describe social policies that aim to change the rules and provide advantages to groups that have traditionally been discriminated against is affirmative action.

Question 9

Which statement below is a main argument in the public debate over positive/affirmative action policies?

Accepted Answer

The public debate over positive/affirmative action policies involves all three main arguments: distributive justice, compensatory justice, and social utility. Distributive justice arguments focus on the fairness of ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, while compensatory justice arguments assert that affirmative action policies are necessary to rectify past injustices and discrimination. Finally, social utility arguments propose that affirmative action policies are necessary for the greater good of society, as they help promote diversity and inclusivity.

Question 10

In what country does the legislation create special provisions for men in certain occupations, like child care and education, in which they are not well represented?

Accepted Answer

Norway has legislation that creates special provisions for men in certain occupations, like child care and education, in which they are not well represented. This is known as the "quota system" and aims to increase gender balance in professions that are traditionally dominated by one gender. India, United States, and South Africa do not have similar legislation.

Question 11

In India, the 1998 Employment Equity Act specifies:

Accepted Answer

The 1998 Employment Equity Act in India focuses on affirmative action measures to ensure fair representation of "designated groups" such as minorities and women in all levels of the workforce. It does not specifically address corrections to current discrimination or special provisions for men in certain occupations. Additionally, the Act does not prioritize workforce representation based on religious groups.

Question 12

Despite the public debate about these programs and the challenges presented in several judicial systems, governments around the world continue to legislate for ________ or ____________ in employment in favor of designated groups.

Accepted Answer

The terms "Affirmative" and "Positive Action" are commonly used to refer to legislative measures aimed at promoting diversity and combating discrimination in the workplace. The other options suggest a lack of action or intervention by the government, which is not reflective of current legislative trends.

Question 13

In what state did voters approve Proposition 209, which amended the state's constitution and stated, "Neither the State of _________ nor any of its political subdivisions shall use race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin as a criterion for either discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group in the operation of the state's system of public employment, public education, or public contracting."

Accepted Answer

Proposition 209 was approved by voters in California in 1996 and prohibited the use of affirmative action programs that consider race, sex, or ethnicity in public education, employment, and contracting.

Question 14

Box. 3.4: Making the Case Against and for Affirmative Action: Eighteen White firefighters, including one Hispanic, sued the City of New Haven claiming racial discrimination. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in 2009 and in a dramatic ruling declared the white firefighters were unfairly denied promotion because of their race, making this:

Accepted Answer

The case of the white firefighters being denied promotion due to their race falls under the category of reserve discrimination, which is a type of affirmative action. Affirmative action programs aim to address past discrimination and promote diversity by providing advantages to traditionally disadvantaged groups, such as people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities. In this case, the firefighters who were not promoted were replaced with individuals of color who scored lower on the promotion exam, which was deemed discriminatory against white firefighters. The Supreme Court ruling invalidated the city's use of race in promotion decisions, but also raised questions about the legality and fairness of affirmative action programs overall.

Question 15

South African affirmative action measures were implemented in order to:

Accepted Answer

The answer of South African affirmative action measures were implemented...

Question 16

Affirmative/Positive Action Programs:

Accepted Answer

Affirmative/Positive Action Programs are intervention measures that attempt to influence the operation of free-market mechanisms and actively reverse past discrimination against specific groups. They are intended as temporary actions, which will be withdrawn once the situation is rectified. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 17

In the United States, Affirmative Action Programs Rule and the Executive Order 11246 (1965) states:

Accepted Answer

The Executive Order 11246 requires employers who conduct business with the federal government to develop affirmative action plans. The other choices are incorrect as they do not accurately reflect the scope or purpose of Affirmative Action Programs Rule and Executive Order 11246.

Question 18

Which statement is true about "Neoclassical" economists?

Accepted Answer

Neoclassical economists argue that discrimination in a competitive market is costly and unsustainable because it leads to inefficiencies such as reduced productivity and the underutilization of talent across diverse groups, ultimately harming employers' competitive advantage and income.

Question 19

An excerpt in the July 1943 issue of Mass Transportation was written by male supervisors to:

Accepted Answer

The excerpt provides tips to supervisors on how to get more efficiency out of women employees, such as assigning them to tasks that suit their “psychological and physical capacities." It does not complain about productivity or warn against hiring women, so options A and C are not correct.

Question 20

Box. 3.3: Equal Employment Legislation and Religious Discrimination: The Case of Northern Ireland. What religious group was suffering severe disadvantages in Northern Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Catholics were suffering severe disadvantages in Northern Ireland due to discrimination and sectarian violence. The discrimination occurred in access to employment, housing, and education, leading to high levels of unemployment and poverty within the Catholic community. The Northern Ireland Fair Employment and Treatment Order of 1998 was enacted to address discrimination based on religious or political beliefs in the workplace.

Quiz 3: Discrimination, Equality and Fairness in Employment: Social Policies and Affirmativepositive Action Programs