Découvrir la politique américaine de
l'Affirmative action.
Points clés
Pendant la majeure partie de ce siècle, la
discrimination a prévalu aux États-Unis
contre des minorités telles que certains groupes
ethniques (Noirs, Hispaniques, Amérindiens,
Asiatiques-Américains) et contre les femmes.
Dans les années 60, ces discriminations allaient
de l'interdiction d'intégrer certaines écoles
à l'impossibilité d'accéder à
des emplois qualifiés.
Des politiques sont alors mises en place pour favoriser
l'accès des femmes et des groupes minoritaires
à l'emploi, à l'éducation, à la
culture et au logement. C'est ce que l'on appelle
Affirmative action.
Malgré les quotas mis en place, les
discriminations persistent. L'efficacité de ces
mesures est remises en question dès la fin des
années 70.
Son action est fortement limitée depuis les
années 90. De fait, l'Affirmative action reste une
question brûlante dans le pays.
For most of this century, discrimination has prevailed in
the USA against minorities such as some ethnic groups
(Blacks, Hispanics, American-Indians, Asian-Americans) or
women.
The 13th, 14th and 15th
amendments of the American Constitution were meant
to forbid racial discrimination and ensure an equal
protection under the law for all citizens in the USA.
Nevertheless, this was not enough to avoid prejudice
referring to race or ethnic origin, age, gender, or religion.
1. Discrimination
Before the 60's, employment opportunity was greatly
restricted for these minorities, who were offered low
wage jobs, even if they were college-educated.
Afro-Americans who could attend colleges entered
segregated institutions whereas Asian-Americans and
Hispanics were legally prevented from attending some
public schools. Access to some occupations was barred by
laws for women, who were often segregated into unskilled
jobs.
2. Affirmative action
In the 1960's, the government decided to undertake a
decisive action in order to remedy the effect of these
discriminations. Policies were set up so as to give
preferential treatment to women or minority groups in the
fields of employment, education, culture, or housing and
measures were taken. This was called "Affirmative
action". Supreme Court orders and Executive orders
developed simultaneously:
In 1961: A Committee on Equal Employment
Opportunity was created by President J.F. Kennedy.
In 1964: A Civil Rights Act forbid
racial discrimination on the part of large private
employers and in public accommodation.
In 1965: Voting Rights Act, executive
order issued by President Lyndon Johnson.
In 1967: Gender was taken into account in
addition to the other protected categories.
In 1972: Equal Opportunity Act,
amendments to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed
by President Nixon. A commission was created to enforce
the plans set up.
3. The questioning of Affirmative action
Despite some advances, minorities continued to suffer
from discrimination. In the late 70's, the Affirmative
action programs started to be questioned. The quotas
imposed led to criticism from people who complained that
Affirmative action had created a reverse discrimination
and unwarranted preferences (une discrimination
à l'envers et des préférences
injustifiées). This led to the judicial
challenge of Affirmative action. The Bakke
Case in 1978 is one of the most famous
examples: the US Supreme Court outlawed (to outlaw =
proscrire) a quota program in a Californian
medical school where 16 places were reserved for
qualified minorities. The Court decided, however, that
minority status could be used as a factor in making
decisions on admissions.
In 1989, Affirmative action was restricted by
the Supreme Court. Stricter limits were defined for
programs and the use of minority set-asides was
outlawed when proof of past discrimination was not
found.
In 1996 in California, all government
agencies and institutions were forbidden, by a new
legislation, to give preferences on the grounds of sex
or race. Attempts have been made by legislation or
judicial action to change policies in other states as
well.
Affirmative action is currently a burning issue
in the USA.
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