The controversy is almost always a powerful stimulus to thought. However, there are debates that are so frequently and are so entrenched, that have put us on top of each ear that severely limit our perspective to see things. I think this has happened with the controversial issue of "affirmative action", which often turns the wrath of the "oppressed majority" and leads us to lose in dramatic battles brain. Thus, first, we ended up focusing solely on a form of affirmative action (preferential treatment ends carried through direct attachment to social groups). Second, the legal considerations are restricted almost exclusively to the determination of the legality and constitutionality of these measures, ignoring the technical analysis of their effectiveness, a measure may be enough to be technically ill-considered criticism without this necessarily having to be illegal. Third, the only perverse side effect is taken into consideration is the possible impact that these measures could have on members of the "oppressed majority", ignoring other issues that may be as important or more, while not as controversial. Fourth, the impact on the "oppressed majority" is usually analyzed from the perspective of "reverse discrimination" when in most cases would be assessed from the principle of equality.
In the best of my ability and within my limitations I have tried to address these problems in an article to come out last month in the journal Industrial Relations (No. 11 June 2010). As you write things with the illusion that someone is "out there" to read them, I take a needed respite from the gloss of the labor reform to make me a little self-advertising, and if I could catch some unwary for reading this effective remedy for insomnia.
The work begins with an examination of the philosophical foundations positive action, hence I think the most important is the criticism of the distinction between "equal opportunities" and "equality of results", which often is used-without much success, "as a crutch to determine the validity of affirmative action.
Secondly, try to pose some questions to clarify the concepts, terminology, since in this issue we have failed to establish a "common language" that allows us to use terms accurately. Use the concept of discrimination that had worked on previous studies : a difference in treatment resulting from the direct or indirect affiliation to a social category that overall real places or persons connected potentially in a position systematic inequality. From there, I wanted to pursue a broad notion of "positive action" as a kind of virtuous reverse discrimination, ie, a social policy that uses the technique of secondment to reduce or eliminate systematic inequalities. This definition leads me to conclude that positive action can be direct or indirect . Indirect positive action is linked to other concepts such as gender mainstreaming and diversity management and generally have fewer adverse effects.
The longest part of the work is referred to the assessment of the effectiveness of affirmative action. I would like this brickbats be useful for those responsible for designing and reviewing these measures (for example, that might be contained in the Equality Schemes). First reference is made to diagnose the situation of inequality and the determination of general and specific objectives. Later, I try to identify the various techniques that could be used to configure the space of possibilities for intervention. Thirdly, I deal with the problems of efficiency and perverse side effects that may arise and going beyond the individual losses that eventually could cause people not assigned to the categories used (although these should also be taken into account), so notes the difficulties in defining the group promoted the problems of scope and coverage, the crystallization of the stereotypes and categories, boomerang effects, problems related to the processing of personal data or the costs to various individuals or entities. Finally, it is valid to focus the analysis of means in relation to these perverse side effects.
So you already have a recommended reading for the beach or the hammock, not all novels are going to be addictive. Hopefully not Off with their digestion.
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