Deck 13: Equality and Discrimination

Question 1

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
By using race or sex to favor some groups we are using an irrelevant characteristic and this is not right.

Answer 1

J

Question 2

The U.S. Supreme Court concluded in the Bakke decision that consideration of race in school admissions was unconstitutional.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

All of the following are examples of types of affirmative action except:

A)Firing employees to reach racial balance.
B)Setting quotas to reach a more representative racial balance.
C)Using preferences among equally qualified candidates.
D)Enlarging the pool of candidates before choosing on the basis of qualifications.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The people affected by secondary racism or sexism are

A)Directly affected by discriminatory words and acts.
B)Less severely affected than victims of primary racism.
C)Invariably silent sufferers, because the forms of discrimination are so subtle.
D)Indirectly affected by differential policies that have an unintended discriminatory effect.

Question 5

What was the significance of the Bakke decision and the University of Michigan cases?

A)They reaffirmed the separation of church and state by denying Catholic schools the right to federal tax dollars.
B)They forbade the use of racial quotas in school admissions, but allowed some consideration of race in admissions decisions.
C)They forbade the use of race considerations in school admissions, but allow gender quotas in admissions decisions.
D)They forbade any consideration of race in school admissions decisions.

Question 6

"It is unjust to treat people differently in ways that deny to some of them significant social benefits unless we can show that there is a difference between them that is relevant to the differential treatment." This quote supports the principle of

A)Justice.
B)Equal pay for equal work.
C)Equality.
D)Reverse discrimination.

Question 7

There are still wide disparities in employment statistics between whites and Blacks in the U.S.

Question 8

Which of the following objections to affirmative action programs is raised by consequentialist critics?

A)They are fundamentally unfair.
B)They are tantamount to reverse discrimination.
C)They mainly benefit middle-class rather than lower-class African Americans.
D)They violate principles of equality and impartiality.

Question 9

Arguments for affirmative action based on reasons of compensatory justice must show that compensation to members of certain groups is justified.

Question 10

Which amendment to the US Constitution gave black women the right to vote?

A)24th
B)19th
C)14th
D)13th

Question 11

According to the principle of equality, a society that preferred women for the respected and highly paid position of financial advisor would be justified in doing so if it could be proven that women by nature were more talented in such matters than men.

Question 12

What was ruled in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education?

A)That affirmative action in elementary schools was illegal and unconstitutional.
B)That students could not be rejected from college on religious grounds.
C)That affirmative action at Brown University was inherently discriminatory.
D)That "separate but equal" educational facilities were unconstitutional.

Question 13

When giving a consequentialist argument for affirmative action one need show only that these programs can have good consequences.

Question 14

Affirmative action programs presume that past discrimination and its resulting present disadvantage are relevant reasons for differential treatment.

Question 15

The principle of equality is a nonconsequentialist moral principle.

Question 16

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
If we hire people according to their sex or race, they will have less self-esteem than if they are hired on competence.

Question 17

According to the principle of equality, it is unjust to treat people differently in ways that deny them significant social benefits unless which of the following is demonstrated?

A)That they are illegal immigrants.
B)That they or their families have materially benefited from past discrimination.
C)That they or their families have materially suffered from past discrimination.
D)That they are relevantly different in ways that justify differential treatment.

Question 18

According to the principle of equality, in order to treat people differently in ways that deny them significant social benefits one need only show that there are real differences between them.

Question 19

Which point does Fullinwider intend to make with the "Land of Giants" thought experiment?

A)That Affirmative Action is the only viable strategy.
B)That  people who benefit from discriminatory practices realize that the practices are morally wrong.
C)That those who seem like giants today will be viewed as small people tomorrow.
D)That well-intentioned people may perpetuate discrimination that is invisible to them.

Question 20

Slavery was prohibited by the Nineteenth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution.

Question 21

Critics of racialism generally agree that race is

A)a social construct.
B)a necessary evil.
C)no longer a factor in social policymaking.
D)a legitimate basis for unequal treatment (in accordance with the principle of equality).

Question 22

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
If young girls and blacks, for example, have more role models in certain professions, they will be more likely to seek those positions, and if this is possible only through affirmative action programs, then we ought to support such programs.

Question 23

Compare and contrast critical race theorists' critique of racial bias (such as Appiah's)and critiques of gender biases (such as Butler's). What similarities can you find in their understandings of race and gender, respectively, and how do these understandings influence their agendas for correcting the problems of racism and gender discrimination?

Question 24

Biases may be unconscious.

Question 25

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
Simply trying to get rid of overt unjust discrimination has not had the desired effect of bringing certain groups into the mainstream, and thus more drastic measures are necessary.

Question 26

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
Just as race or sex were wrongly used in the past to treat people differently, so also is their use just as inherently wrong in present form in preferential treatment programs.

Question 27

Explain the distinctions and relationships between the terms 'prejudice,' 'racism,' and 'structural racism.'

Question 28

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
The fact that some people because of past discrimination are now in a socially disadvantaged position is a relevant reason to treat them differently but now in ways that advantage them.

Question 29

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
We ought to realize that if we continue with programs of preferential treatment there will likely be a white male backlash and this will make it even more difficult to achieve racial or sexual equality.

Question 30

Label the following examples of arguments regarding Preferential Treatment as appealing to considerations of Justice (J), or to Consequentialist considerations (C)
It is not fair to prefer a woman or minority group member over a more well qualified applicant for this is to use an irrelevant difference as a basis for differential treatment.