Death sparks protests over caste-based harassment of Indian doctor
Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE
Note the example of affirmative action here to achieve greater inequality....but note also potential rebuttal on how this affirmative action can result in a backlash as it causes the envy and resentment of upper caste here over the special treatment -- and what they deem undeserved (coz the lower caste may have lower admission exam grades) -- received by the lower caste. It may also cement one's existing prejudice over the lower caste as one will then think that they must really be inferior and belong to the weaker lot if they need special treatment to help alleviate them. The same goes for affirmative actions towards disadvantaged group like women, the elderly and the disabled. The more we try to help them, the more we may be harming them by:
a) fostering the exisitng belief that they are really 'weak' in the eyes of the public
b) increasing resentment towards them by according them special treatment that goes against the grain of meritocracy and 'fairness'
c) the consequent compromise on the effectiveness of the organization or system due to the more lax criteria when recruiting the disadvantaged lot (e.g. reputation of university may be affected when students who do not meet the grade are admitted just to satisfy the university admission quota reserved for the disadvantaged lot; the quality of the graduates from the university may be affected if the quota is considerable, or these students may not even be able to graduate due to their weaker academic ability.....In another context, consider women being promoted to become ministers just to satisfy the gender quota in government, when in fact they are not really competent and experienced enough to govern the country. What then will be the effect on the country in its quest for gender equality in the government?)
Government educational institutions reserve places for marginalised groups like scheduled tribes or castes and other backward communities. While this has given many the opportunity to study at some of the country's best institutions, such programmes have generated opposition from upper-caste students, especially in the competitive medical education sector.
Qns:
1. In your society, how far is equality for all a reality? (Cam. 2012)
2. Can prejudice ever be eliminated? (Cam. 2011)
If can't access above link, click HERE
Note the example of affirmative action here to achieve greater inequality....but note also potential rebuttal on how this affirmative action can result in a backlash as it causes the envy and resentment of upper caste here over the special treatment -- and what they deem undeserved (coz the lower caste may have lower admission exam grades) -- received by the lower caste. It may also cement one's existing prejudice over the lower caste as one will then think that they must really be inferior and belong to the weaker lot if they need special treatment to help alleviate them. The same goes for affirmative actions towards disadvantaged group like women, the elderly and the disabled. The more we try to help them, the more we may be harming them by:
a) fostering the exisitng belief that they are really 'weak' in the eyes of the public
b) increasing resentment towards them by according them special treatment that goes against the grain of meritocracy and 'fairness'
c) the consequent compromise on the effectiveness of the organization or system due to the more lax criteria when recruiting the disadvantaged lot (e.g. reputation of university may be affected when students who do not meet the grade are admitted just to satisfy the university admission quota reserved for the disadvantaged lot; the quality of the graduates from the university may be affected if the quota is considerable, or these students may not even be able to graduate due to their weaker academic ability.....In another context, consider women being promoted to become ministers just to satisfy the gender quota in government, when in fact they are not really competent and experienced enough to govern the country. What then will be the effect on the country in its quest for gender equality in the government?)
Government educational institutions reserve places for marginalised groups like scheduled tribes or castes and other backward communities. While this has given many the opportunity to study at some of the country's best institutions, such programmes have generated opposition from upper-caste students, especially in the competitive medical education sector.
Qns:
1. In your society, how far is equality for all a reality? (Cam. 2012)
2. Can prejudice ever be eliminated? (Cam. 2011)
posted by Dark Shadow | 12:30 PM
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