Equal opportunity

Equal opportunity is a state of fairness in which job applicants are treated similarly, unhampered by artificial barriers or prejudices or preferences, except when particular distinctions can be explicitly justified. The intent is that the important jobs in an organization should go to the people who are most qualified – persons most likely to perform ably in a given task – and not go to persons for reasons deemed arbitrary or irrelevant, such as circumstances of birth, upbringing, having well-connected relatives or friends, religion, sex, ethnicity, race, caste, or involuntary personal attributes such as disability, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

History

The concept of equal opportunity emerged in the United States during the civil rights movements of the 1960s. It was a response to the racial discrimination that was prevalent in the country at the time. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) were established to enforce equal opportunity laws and regulations.

Principles

Equal opportunity principles are aimed at ensuring that everyone has an equal chance to succeed in life, regardless of their background or personal circumstances. These principles are often enshrined in laws and regulations, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Implementation

Implementing equal opportunity can involve measures such as affirmative action, which is a policy of promoting the education and employment of members of groups that are known to have previously suffered from discrimination.

Criticisms

Critics of equal opportunity argue that it can lead to reverse discrimination, where individuals from majority groups are discriminated against in favor of minority groups. They also argue that it can result in a lack of meritocracy, where positions are filled based on quotas rather than on merit.

See also

• Affirmative action
• Discrimination
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

References

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