So what's the deal with affirmative action? Why does its very mention get bees stuck up people's bonnets?
Case in point: The other day I was having a discussion with a few friends about women Ministers in Tanzania. One was applauding President Jakaya Kikwete for including all of 5 women Ministers in his new Cabinet. I quickly argued that 5 out of the 94 Women Members of Parliament was hardly a cause for celebration. That's where the big debate on affirmative action came up with some contorting their faces in disgust at the whole concept.
I mean really! Think about it. You’re born in some poverty stricken semi-arid area. You trek long distances to school in the unbearable heat hoping they’ll give you food as there sure isn’t any at home. Such comforts as electricity and water are out of the question and you’re just happy with what you get. When you sit down to take your final exams, you are up against some other kid who researches for her homework on the internet … at home! She has 5 meals a day and engages in such extra-curricular activities as swimming and is an ace in the debate team.
Do you think the playing field is equal? May it maybe be necessary for you to try harder to achieve what she can? Is it unfair to lower the standards for you to bring the start line for the two of you to the same position?
Ok … Ok … I hear someone shout “But some have made it. Why can’t you?!” The truth is that we’re not all the same and some do excel even under the worst of circumstances. We have to take on the debate while looking at the average Joe. Yes 5 Tanzanian women MP’s have made it to ministerial positions. That’s 5 out of 31 ministers. You do the math. The world is skewed in such a way that a man has an easier time in the political scene. We need to tip the balance in the women’s favour to even things out. The same applies to men. How many male receptionists do you know? Hell, it’s only the other day that male nurses became acceptable to most of us!
So you see, affirmative action is not a bad thing so long as it is carried out within some time frame. Leaving it open ended would just amount to discrimination.
I mean really! Think about it. You’re born in some poverty stricken semi-arid area. You trek long distances to school in the unbearable heat hoping they’ll give you food as there sure isn’t any at home. Such comforts as electricity and water are out of the question and you’re just happy with what you get. When you sit down to take your final exams, you are up against some other kid who researches for her homework on the internet … at home! She has 5 meals a day and engages in such extra-curricular activities as swimming and is an ace in the debate team.
Do you think the playing field is equal? May it maybe be necessary for you to try harder to achieve what she can? Is it unfair to lower the standards for you to bring the start line for the two of you to the same position?
Ok … Ok … I hear someone shout “But some have made it. Why can’t you?!” The truth is that we’re not all the same and some do excel even under the worst of circumstances. We have to take on the debate while looking at the average Joe. Yes 5 Tanzanian women MP’s have made it to ministerial positions. That’s 5 out of 31 ministers. You do the math. The world is skewed in such a way that a man has an easier time in the political scene. We need to tip the balance in the women’s favour to even things out. The same applies to men. How many male receptionists do you know? Hell, it’s only the other day that male nurses became acceptable to most of us!
So you see, affirmative action is not a bad thing so long as it is carried out within some time frame. Leaving it open ended would just amount to discrimination.
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