Is Affirmative Action Fair?: The Myth of Equity in College Admissions

Affirmative action in college admissions is a topic of heated public debate. Natasha Warikoo argues that it is a mistake to equate college admissions with personal merit and reward and that it should be based on furthering the mission of higher education. She concludes that a focus on individual fairness conceals more important questions about justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

Affirmative action in college admissions, which involves considering an applicant's membership in a marginalized group when making selection decisions, has been a subject of intense public debate. Some contend that it undermines racial equity, while others advocate for its potential to promote equal opportunity in a racially unequal society. Natasha Warikoo delves into the arguments for and against this policy, which has been frequently before the US Supreme Court. She examines the purposes of higher education and the selection process to argue that equating college admissions with personal merit and reward is a mistake. College admissions should be focused on furthering the mission of higher education, which includes contributing to our shared democracy and to the human condition. Ultimately, Warikoo concludes that a focus on individual fairness conceals more significant questions about justice. Regardless of one's perspective, readers will find themselves contemplating anew and asking the deeper questions that underpin this emotive debate.

Weight: 150g
Dimension: 190 x 125 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509549375