I am not saying that the case in question is right or wrong, but in my personal opinion many people do not ‘get’ why positive positive discrimination is the right thing to do in some circumstances. If there has clearly been discrimination in the past positive discrimination is a useful tool p, when used correctly, for balancing the books. The industry I worked in was almost exclusively ‘white’ when i joined and action was needed to correct that. By the time I left it was incredibly multicultural, particularly in London.
I couldn't agree less.
Positive discrimination is just discrimination. You can spin it anyway you like but it is just discrimination.
Using the excuse that you're righting the wrongs of the past by using it to meet minority group quotas to correct past discrimination is false economy. This is exceedingly important for recruitment in jobs like the Armed Forces, the police, fire brigade, health services or anywhere else where the service provided is mission critical or where poor service could lead to loss of life.
When I was in, during the 80's, a career in the Forces was not popular in ethnic minority groups. Many airmen that I knew who were brown skinned did not find joining the Forces to be popular with family. I served alongside one guy who's family (Jamaican) had all but disowned him. I also served with a couple of Muslim airmen who had been ostracized by family and friends for the same reason.
If that attitude still persists in those communities then no amount of "Positive" recruitment will help.... unless you think press ganging should make a comeback.
There's a young lad round the corner from me who had received his start date to join the RAF a couple of months ago. His mother told me that he's recently received a letter that this has had to be deferred for 6 months due to the unavailability of training courses and could possibly be deferred again. He's gutted and is now considering the police instead.
He's white and obviously male.
