Title VII addresses discrimination, but it does so only after an instance of discrimination has been claimed. Affirmative action policies are a means to end discrimination in a far less costly and disruptive way than protracted litigation. However, we must deal with past and present discrimination. Twenty-three percent of men become corporate vice presidents, but only 10 percent of the women, while 15 percent of men served as directors, compared to 8 percent of the women. Barriers to employment and promotion still exist for women and minorities.
Affirmative action opens the doors to opportunity and advancement.
Working women still earn just over 70 cents for every dollar men earn. Much of this wage gap is due to the fact that women are still segregated into traditionally female-dominated jobs where wages are low. Further, the pay gap exists even within the same occupation. In 86 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women earn 20 to 35 percent less than men. For example, female college professors earn 77.1 percent of male professors' wages.