Can positive discrimination be reconciled with equality of opportunity?
… any reconciliation between positive discrimination and equality of opportunity; in fact it seems that they run a counter argument to one another. However, my understanding of equality of opportunity has a broader concept. If positive discrimination is not viewed in isolation (as a legitimate process which individuals receive beneficial treatment due to the group they belong to) but is instead viewed as an essential tool which serves to correct the inequality of opportunity that currently exists in society, then positive discrimination; or affirmative action as it is interchangeably know as, in fact, on balance, promotes equality of opportunity. As mentioned earlier equality of opportunity is not a definite entity. At its basic level it can be referred to as; negative opportunity; the Minimalist position; or ‘the simple view.’ These views all present equality of opportunity, utilizing a colour-blind approach, whilst complying with anti-discriminatory legislation. It is based on the
