Should governments use positive discrimination policies to increase Essay

Should governments use positive discrimination policies to increase the representation of women and ethnic minorities - Essay Example There have been arguments that a similar thing, defined as positive discrimination or affirmative action, should also happen for ethnic minorities and should be expanded for women (Anderson, 2014: p22). The prejudice against women and ethnic minorities in representation is undisputed and positive discrimination represents the best way to redress the disparity in the short term. Today, there exists a vicious circle in which ethnic minorities and women prefer not to stand for elections, due to prejudicial attitudes against them (Pincus, 2013: p27). Positive discrimination is the best way to offer them encouragement to run for office and, if one or two generations are given the opportunity to run through positive discrimination, this would push forward the agenda and need not be a permanent measure. There are those who argue that the coming generations need role models, rather than individuals running for election to make up the numbers, especially claiming that ethnic minorities and women are capable of election without help from male colleagues (Cohen et al, 2007: p38). However, given the prevalent institutional racism and sexism in the UK, for example, it would be very difficult for women these groups to make it past the selection committee. Implementing positive discrimination for elective posts would also enable ethnic minorities and women to speak on issues that only they can, such as workplace inequalities and the family (Mosley & Capaldi, 2011: p40). These topics are still seen as being of less importance to the more preferred foreign and economic policies. By using positive discrimination, more ethnic minorities and women will be elected, encouraging social policy debate. Opponents of this strategy contend that even where female politicians are elected to public office, such as Angela Merkel and Margaret Thatcher, they still deal with topics that are traditionally male (Daye, 2011: p42). The same can be said of