Affirmative action in the United States protects people on the grounds of race, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, and age. It does this by giving limited preferences to groups that have faced long-standing discrimination in job hiring, admission to institutions of higher education, the awarding of government contracts, and other social benefits.
Who does affirmative action protect?
Where does affirmative action apply?
As a government remedy in the United States, affirmative action has been the subject of numerous legal challenges that have determined where and how it is applied. The hiring practices of federal contractors, including public universities, are subject to affirmative action. Few U.S. states require private colleges to use affirmative action in admissions; most of its application in private schools and privately owned businesses is voluntary. Several states don’t allow racial preferences in government contracting and admissions processes for public universities.
