It lumps all women into a class, drawing no distinction between the privileged daughter of a Rockefeller and the direct descendant of a black slave. Nor does it attempt to identify those who actually discriminate. White males, as a class, are forced to accept collective guilt. I was born into a lower-class working family that could not provide me with music lessons, hardcover books, and other niceties. On the other hand, I inherited the virtually indestructible good health of my Irish peasant ancestors.
Women do themselves no favor by asking for privileges.
That only strengthens the paternalism from which they suffered for so long. Traditionally, in America, equality has meant equal treatment under the law and equal access to political power. This model focuses on the individual and her relationship to the state. The equality promoted by affirmative action demands eaual access to wealth and opportunity. This model focuses on classes of people and their relationship to other classes, or to society in general.