Examination of Affirmative Action and Comparable Worth as Means to Rectify Past Gender Discrimination

Abstract

Affirmative action and comparable worth programs exist, in part, to rectify past gender discrimination. The purpose of this paper is to address the controversy surrounding the effects of affirmative action programs and comparable worth programs in the United States and Canada. Opponents of the affirmative action program calim the effects are reverse disrimination against white males, there is competition among different protected groups and the rulings of the Supreme Courthave been inconsistent. Opponents of comparable worth argue that the programs are too costly to implement, and the method used to evaluate the jobs can yield different results. Jurisdictions in which comparable worth has been implemented are studied, including Canada, the sataes of: Minnesota, Washington, and Iowa. The governments of Minnesota, at the Conunty level, and the City of San Jose, California, as well. This paper reviews the laws regarding affirmative action and comparable worth, and the U.S. Supreme Court cases that have decided in respect to the same. The results of this paper conclude that the role of the Supreme Court has been consistent and that both affirmative action and comparable worth, are needed to rectify past gender discrimination.