Preferential Hiring

In recent years preferential hiring has become an issue of

great interest. Preferential hiring, which was devised to create

harmony between the different races and sexes, has divided the lines

even more. Supporters on both sides seem fixed in their positions and

often refuse to listen to the other group's platform. In this essay,

the recipients of preferential hiring will be either black or female,

and the position in question will be a professorship on the university

level. The hirings in question are cases that involve several

candidates, all roughly equal in their qualifications (including

experience, education, people skills, etc.), with the only difference

being race and/or sex. What we have here is a case of predetermined

preference. The two candidates in question are equal in all ways,

except race. The black applicant is selected, not because of skills or

qualifications (in that case the white man would have provided the

same result), but for his skin color. This seems to be blatant

discrimination, but many believe it is justified. Some feel

retribution for years of discrimination is reason enough, but that

issue will be discussed later. First, lets focus on why this is not a

solution to creating an unbiased society.

Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream: "I have a dream that my

four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not

be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their

character." He desired a world without discrimination, without

prejudice, and without stereotypes. The fundamental lesson years of

discrimination should have taught is that to give anyone preference

based on skin color, sex, or religious beliefs is, in one word, wrong.

As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, judgment based on skin color must

not exist. All preferential hiring does is keep judgments based on

skin color alive. Race and sex should not be issues in today's

society, yet preferential hiring continues to make these factors

issues by treating minorities as a group rather than as individuals.

More importantly preferential hiring may actually fuel, rather than

extinguish, feelings of racial hostility. Applying the concept of

preferential hiring to another situation may help elucidate its

shortcomings. A party of white men and a party of black men both

arrive at a restaurant at the same time and only one table is free.

The headwaiter can only seat one party and must make a decision.

According to preferential hiring theory it is necessary to seat the

black party first, since historically blacks have been discriminated

against when seated in restaurants. In another situation, a white man

and a black man are both equidistant from the last seat on the bus.

Both men are the same age, have no medical problems, and are equal in

all ways except skin color. Should the black man get the seat since in

the past black men have been discriminated against? We could continue

this practice for several centuries before the debt we owe for

depriving blacks of a seat on the bus would be paid. Perhaps these

examples are invalid. It could be said that jobs are a different

issue. They help define social status and provide economic well-being.

They might even boost self-confidence, something that discrimination

has stolen. Two points must be considered before moving any further.

First, blacks may learn better from a black, and women may learn

better from a woman. Second, hiring women and blacks will provide role

models for others. The first point Thomson quickly concedes as likely

to be false. Discussion about the second point however is required,

and will, in effect, serve to negate the first point as well.

First, lets create a character, Bill. Bill is grossly

overweight and unattractive. Studies have shown that many employers

discriminate (whether subconsciously or not), against both overweight

and unattractive individuals. Unfortunately for Bill, he fits into

both categories. His inability to land a job reflective of his

abilities, coupled with years of public humiliation through jokes

made at his expense, has destroyed his self-esteem. This has caused

him to accept as fact the notion that he will never be able to reach

his goals. Few "Bill" success stories exist, only further plummeting

his self-confidence. This example sounds strikingly similar to a

common argument for preferential hiring. I have been discriminated

against, which