Studia Iuridica

Kontrowersje wokół pozytywnej dyskryminacji

2021, 89, No. 1

Katarzyna Eliasz

0000-0002-0575-0455

DOI

10.31338/2544-3135.si.2022-89.3

Publication date

02.05.2022

Publishing model

open access

License type

CC BY 4.0 Int.

Field

Law

Discipline

law

Language of publication

Polish

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Article

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Number of downloads:26

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Abstract

The concept of reverse discrimination refers to a variety of strategies that entail giving strong preferential treatment in employment or education to the groups in a society that have been institutionally discriminated against. “Giving strong preferential treatment” means that candidates with lower qualifications are given priority over better qualified members of the groups that have not been discriminated against in the past. Reverse discrimination can be justified with reference to two strategies: backward-looking and forward-looking. On the backward-looking justification, reverse discrimination is a means of compensating victims of past discrimination, while on the forward-looking justification, reverse discrimination is a means of creating more diverse and egalitarian society. The aim of this paper is to challenge both justifications. First, against backwardlooking justification, I shall claim that reverse discrimination is not a proper method of compensating for past wrongs of discrimination. Second, I shall challenge the forwardlooking argument by pointing at the risks inherent in perceiving reverse discrimination as the means of creating more egalitarian society. Importantly, the objections presented in this paper refer only to reverse discrimination, and they do not undermine other methods used within the affirmative action (including tie-breaker provisions).

Keywords:

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