It often harms the very groups it is attempting to benefit. Talented women and minorities are presumed to be mediocre and to be in their positions because of quotas and promotion of the under-qualified. Affirmative action increases bigotry, resentment, racism and sexism. It does so by reinforcing stereotypes of inferiority. In America all whites are penalized and all blacks receive special favors, including those who never personally faced any discrimination, because of the actions in the past perpetrated by some dead whites against dead blacks.
Affirmative action produces ludicrous injustices.
There are endless examples of incompetent people being promoted and hired under affirmative action. If a woman happens to be the most qualified person for a position, then she will be automatically hired by anyone whose self-interest dictates that the most qualified serve in this position. There is no reason for quotas or double standards in hiring. The problem is not just women in management. We are now hearing anti-democratic calls to set aside quotas of Knesset seats for women and to assign women to party lists by quota.