Diversity Quotas, Diverse Perspectives

Legislative and institutional affirmative and positive action policies, intended to increase accessibility and the participation of historically disadvantaged groups in employment and education, have been with us for some time, particularly in Anglo Saxon countries. One of the major issues they are intended to address is gender inequality. Proponents of these policies have hailed quota initiatives as a key to promoting equal opportunities and reducing discrimination against minorities and disadvantaged groups. At the same time, affirmative action policies and processes have been challenged in courts and have caused controversy in educational establishments, highlighting the fact that these practices can have negative consequences. The complexities of implementing affirmative action are the subject of debate across a wide range of academic disciplines. Exploring the use of quotas and affirmative action at an institutional or organizational level from a variety of different perspectives, the contributions in Diversity Quotas, Diverse Perspectives provide a better understanding of the complexity and controversial nature of policies and actions in different countries. Even across Europe, implementation has varied widely from country to country. For example, while most European countries have employment quotas for people with disabilities, there is little consistency among the European Union's member states when it comes to, for example, quotas and other policies relating to ethnic minorities in employment and educational settings. Focussing here particularly on gender-related initiatives, the contributions from researchers across the world investigate variances in and differing justifications for policies and raise questions pertinent to other aspects of diversity. This book offers a global perspective on the subject and expands the discussion of it beyond Anglo-Saxon contexts.