At a social level, affirmative action is all well and good in chipping away at long-established inequalities and compensating for possible institutional prejudice. Equality of opportunity is also something that is extremely difficult to guarantee, but how do you justify what is still a form of discrimination (albeit with positive intentions) on a personal level?
I think it can also depreciate achievement and leave those recruited or employed on such a basis vulnerable to accusations like "you only got the job because you're a woman" or whatever, rather than as a result of merit/qualifications.
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