Diversity in Education (Essay Sample)

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Analysis Essay
The current education sector is characterized by diversity in cultural aspects, race, and religion among others. There is no boundary in which the students are restricted to pursue their education, and the same case applies to the employment sector. The society understands the impact of racial discrimination and oppression of the minority group, and they have instituted strategies that ensure realization of equitable distribution of resources and equal opportunities in the academic and employment sector. One of such strategies is encouraging affirmative action. Although affirmative action is critical in safeguarding the interest of the minority, Eastland, in his editorial, argues that affirmative action is a disguise in the realization of equity across the globe.
Eastland outlines numerous setbacks associated with affirmative action, one of which being that it causes stigmatization. The strategy focuses on providing opportunities to the minority group in the society. As such, a certain proportion of opportunities are set aside for the benefit of the minority group in the society. The minority group is stigmatized as they understand that without the favor of the majority group in the society, they cannot get the opportunities and privileges enjoyed by other groups in the society. Eastland argue that the society, regardless of whether one is a minority or majority, should access the opportunities available on a competitive manner (Eastland 100). Dependence on the majority group gives them the upper hand to dictate the operations and activities of the minority.
The objective of affirmative action is to enhance equity among all groups in the society, but, in reality, it is the reverse of discrimination. In essence, it is not justifiable to replace discrimination against the minority groups in the society with discrimination against non-minority groups. The United States Constitution provides that equality should always be observed in the society, and discriminating majority group from accessing some of the opportunities, is in itself contrary to the laws of the United States. Reducing the proportion of opportunities for the majority group is demonstrating discrimination in the present world. An individual’s education background and achievements should be the basis for accessing opportunities rather than basing on minority and majority groupings.
Affirmative action focuses on race rather than focusing on meritocracy. Admissions into the public institutions should be based on a student’s merit rather than racial background. The end of racial discrimination will only be achieved when the society’s focus is on encouraging competitiveness in various opportunities instead of focusing on benefiting the minority group. Eastland argues that students who are given priorities based on affirmative action often end-up underachieving (Eastland 102). This is not good for th...