>>12567003the idea is that, assuming ability to succeed is randomly distributed among everyone, then traditional selection methods (standardized test scores, high school awards, extracurriculars) would lead to more people from privileged backgrounds being selected, because they have the resources to be able to meet this criteria. but if you believe that everyone is equally able to succeed, then that means you're unfairly ignoring whole groups of people who simply didn't have these resources.
of course whether or not the first statement is true is up for a lot of debate. I'm sure anyone could agree that it's pretty shitty for someone to not have a chance to succeed simply because they grew up in downtown detroit, while Chaz from Hoboken, NJ who went to a private prep school basically gets a free ride to any good job he wants despite spending his entire undergraduate career drinking his days away with the fraternity.
as a leftist academic, I believe affirmative action as it stands is a disaster as it doesn't properly account for economic factors.
