ancement in society. Simply put, they are allowed to achieve to a certain point, but then are oppressed and failto reach past that. The glass ceiling demonstrates the futility of a seemingly good idea. Now, instead of oppression from the less important jobs, blacks are now allowed to work,but simply can’t advance to a higher paying or more important position. Although it’sdifficult to assess, there is a negative psychological aspect to receiving something thatyou didn’t earn. A quota places some minorities in a position where they aren’t preparedto succeed and the result is a blow to their self-esteem.In contrast to Steele’s beliefs, Tom Beauchamp’s article “The Justification ofReverse Discrimination” develops his point that perhaps affirmative action is the bestsolution for preventing discrimination against minority groups. Blacks have beenpersecuted throughout their lives, and Beauchamp argues that past injustices warrant theprotection of an affirmative action policy. As a result, he concludes that affirmativeaction is the best solution for the aid and compensation of blacks. Beauchamp concedesthat reverse discrimination can occur as a result of affirmative action, but he also feelsthat it can be morally justified. I (Beauchamp) agree with those critics who maintain that some policies have createdsituations of injustice. However, I do not agree with the presumption that when policieswith numerical goals create injustices they are necessarily unjustified. Equal opportunity isbut one principle of justice, and justice is but one demand of ethics. We need also to takeinto account principles of just compensation and the public interest.Beauchamp’s logic above concedes that racial and gender discrimination is pervasive,and that simply because a policy is unjust for one group of individuals, it may be farmore justifiable for another group. If the numerical goals are more benef...
