Here are realities based on common misconceptions about affirmative action gathered from students, em- ployees, managers, supervisors, and business owners over the years. See if you recognize any of them. Affirmative action does not require employers to remove qualified whites and males from their jobs and give these jobs to minorities and women whether or not they are qualified. Affirmative action does not prevent employers from hiring white males who are more qualified for the job. Under affirmative action, an applicant need not simply be a female or a minority to be placed in a job. The law takes the position that any employee who obtains a job under an affirmative action plan be qualified for the job. Workplace productivity and efficiency do not suffer under affirmative action plans. We believe we have always lived in a meritocracy in which the best person gets the job. That simply has not always been true and operated to disad- vantage minorities and women. There are workplaces where affirmative action is still needed to make sure job applicants have more of a level playing field. If a female or minority is in an applicant pool with other nonminority or female candidates, the female or minority need not automatically be hired. Employers are to apply to females and minori- ties the same job requirements they apply to males and nonminorities. Affirmative action is not about punishment, repa- rations, or slavery. It is about present-day exclusion of minorities and women from the workplace. Minorities and females can and should be termi- nated from their jobs if they do not perform as required. However, their race or gender may not be the reason for the terminationtheir actions should be.

1. What is affirmative action?

2. Why was affirmative action created?
3. Are there any facts about Affirmative Action that you weren't aware of before you read your text? Name a few.