Question 1

According to Leeser and O'Donohue, the feminist conception of sexual harassment is incomplete as a woman in a position of power could not sexually harass a man in a lesser position because this does not harm the group of men.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

According to Sher in "Diversity", what is one of the problems surrounding justification for affirmative action based upon rectification for past harms

Accepted Answer

According to Sher in "Diversity," one of the problems surrounding justification for affirmative action based on rectification for past harms is the difficulty in identifying the specific individuals who have been wronged and those who have benefited from such wrongs. Sher argues that affirmative action policies aimed at rectifying past injustices often face the challenge of accurately determining who should be eligible for compensatory measures.

The historical injustices that affirmative action seeks to address, such as slavery, segregation, and discrimination, affected large groups of people over extended periods. However, the individuals who suffered from these injustices are not always easily identifiable in the present, nor are the direct beneficiaries of those injustices. This creates a problem of connecting past wrongs to current remedies in a way that is both fair and practical.

Moreover, Sher discusses the issue of collective versus individual responsibility. It is complex to assign responsibility for past harms to current individuals or institutions that may not have been directly involved in those past actions. This raises questions about the fairness of holding present-day individuals or groups accountable for the actions of their predecessors.

In summary, Sher points out that while the intent of affirmative action to rectify past injustices is noble, the practical implementation of such policies is fraught with challenges, including identifying the rightful recipients of affirmative action and determining the extent of responsibility among current individuals or institutions for past harms.

Question 3

Beauchamp himself implicitly recognizes the moral wrongs in preferential policies surrounding affirmative action. As a result, the argument being made is that practices of preferential treatment are often the lesser of two evils in the pursuit of the goals of affirmative action. How does Beauchamp imply that the goals of affirmative action are sufficient to justify the potential harms caused by employing preferential practices.What are the moral foundations that are used to defend and justify preferential treatment for disadvantaged groups as a part of affirmative action policies

Accepted Answer

Beauchamp implies that the goals of affirmative action, such as promoting diversity and addressing historical injustices, are sufficient to justify the potential harms caused by employing preferential practices. He acknowledges the moral wrongs in preferential policies but argues that they are often necessary in order to achieve the broader goals of affirmative action. This implies that the moral foundation for justifying preferential treatment lies in the pursuit of justice and equality for disadvantaged groups.

The moral foundations used to defend and justify preferential treatment for disadvantaged groups as a part of affirmative action policies are rooted in principles of distributive justice and corrective justice. Distributive justice involves the fair distribution of resources and opportunities, and affirmative action seeks to address the systemic inequalities that have disadvantaged certain groups. Corrective justice, on the other hand, focuses on rectifying past wrongs and ensuring that individuals and groups are not unfairly disadvantaged due to historical injustices.

Additionally, the moral foundation for preferential treatment in affirmative action is also based on the recognition of the social and economic benefits of diversity. By promoting diversity in educational and professional settings, affirmative action aims to create more inclusive and equitable environments that benefit society as a whole.

Overall, the moral foundations for justifying preferential treatment in the context of affirmative action policies are based on principles of justice, equality, and the recognition of the broader societal benefits of diversity.

Question 4

Under the Intimidation Model, Larry May suggests sexual harassment is embodied by the transgressor being in a more powerful position than the victim.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In "Diversity", George Sher argues that forward-looking justifications of affirmative action avoid the difficulties inherent in backward-looking justifications which believe that affirmative action is justified as retribution for past injustices.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In "Normative Issues in Defining Sexual Harassment" by Jaimie Leeser and William O'Donohue, it is the coercive violation of individual autonomy that is the central moral objection against "quid pro quo" sexual harassment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In your own words, define affirmative according to Beauchamp in "Affirmative Action and Diversity Goals in Hiring and Promotion".

Accepted Answer

The answer of In your own words, define affirmative according...

Question 8

In "A Defense of Diversity Affirmative Action", James Sterba argues that preferential treatment of minority groups is justified through appeal to both the goal of diversity in education and the goal of remedying the effects of societal discrimination, a constitutionally permissible appeal. Do you believe that rectifying past injustices is an appropriate goal of government legislation. Why or why not

Accepted Answer

The answer of In "A Defense of Diversity Affirmative Action",...

Question 9

Beauchamp, in "Affirmative Action Goals in Hiring and Promotion", mentions that empirical studies have reported diversity in the workforce being correlated with which of the following:

Accepted Answer

A)   Customer satisfaction (positive correlation)  
B)   Higher-quality employees (positive correlation)  
C)   Less turnover (negative correlation)  
D)   All of the above

Question 10

According to James P. Sterba in "A Defense of Diversity Affirmative Action" what is/are the potential goal(s)of affirmative action programs

Accepted Answer

A)   To put an end to existing discriminatory practices 
B)   To compensate for past discrimination and its effects 
C)   To promote diversity in pursuit of its educational benefits and its ability to create a more effective workforce 
D)   All of the above

Question 11

Illegal discrimination occurs whenever one group is arbitrarily and adversely treated differently from another.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Leeser and O'Donohue specify that the Kantian perspective necessitates a certain level of respect for all people that disallows treatment of humans as simply a means to an end.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

None of the justifications by Leeser and O'Donohue are adequate to include discrimination of a person on religious grounds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of these statements regarding corporate affirmative action policies would Tom L. Beauchamp most agree with in "Affirmative Action Goals in Hiring and Promotion"

Accepted Answer

A)   Corporate affirmative action policies should be voluntary since it is outside the scope of government control to dictate hiring policies by corporations outside of clearly egregious cases of discrimination. 
B)   There is reason to believe that corporate affirmative action policies may be in line with best hiring strategies since there is evidence to suggest hidden or unconscious discrimination may prevent companies from hiring the best candidates. 
C)   The government should dictate corporate affirmative action policies for all corporations employing more than a certain number of employees to ensure fairness. 
D)   Discrimination plays such a minor role in corporate hiring that corporate affirmative action policies are no longer required.

Question 15

In "Sexual Harassment and Solidarity" Larry May argues that sexual discrimination is wrong on which of these accounts

Accepted Answer

A)   Women are degraded 
B)   Women are treated unfairly 
C)   Women are denied a certain amount of autonomy over their lives 
D)   All of the above

Question 16

This chapter has several articles which argue either for or against affirmative action. Choose at least one article on each side of the debate. First, provide the best possible defense you can for one side of the debate. Second, provide the best possible defense you can for the other side of the debate. Finally, state your own position. Which side do you believe has the strongest arguments. Feel free to expand beyond the arguments made in the articles you have chosen.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This chapter has several articles which argue...

Question 17

Freedom of speech and expression are fundamental human rights that are protected under the U.S. constitution. Commonly, defenses of these rights are grounded in appeals to autonomy (in order to act autonomously we must have the freedom to express ourselves). Thus, restrictions on our freedom of expression correlate to restrictions on our autonomy. However, several authors in this chapter recognize that sexual harassment can have a detrimental effect on autonomy. On the surface there seems to be a tension between appeals to autonomy in defense of freedom of speech and expression and appeals to autonomy in order to justify restrictions on freedom of speech and expression which may result in sexual harassment. Do you believe that there is a conflict between these two positions. Evaluate the feasibility of balancing such a tension.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Freedom of speech and expression are fundamental...

Question 18

Give an example of a hostile or abusive work environment as described by Larry May in "Sexual Harassment and Solidarity".

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give an example of a hostile or...

Question 19

Which ethical theory seems to most centrally play a role in May's objections to sexual harassment. Does an examination of this ethical theory shed any light on the moral wrongdoing committed by sexual harassment

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which ethical theory seems to most centrally...

Question 20

According to Beauchamp, many corporations have replaced "Affirmative action" with what phrase/word

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Beauchamp, many corporations have replaced...

Exam 4: Diversity, Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace

According to Leeser and O'Donohue, the feminist conception of sexual harassment is incomplete as a woman in a position of power could not sexually harass a man in a lesser position because this does not harm the group of men.

According to Sher in "Diversity", what is one of the problems surrounding justification for affirmative action based upon rectification for past harms

Under the Intimidation Model, Larry May suggests sexual harassment is embodied by the transgressor being in a more powerful position than the victim.

In "Diversity", George Sher argues that forward-looking justifications of affirmative action avoid the difficulties inherent in backward-looking justifications which believe that affirmative action is justified as retribution for past injustices.

In "Normative Issues in Defining Sexual Harassment" by Jaimie Leeser and William O'Donohue, it is the coercive violation of individual autonomy that is the central moral objection against "quid pro quo" sexual harassment.

In your own words, define affirmative according to Beauchamp in "Affirmative Action and Diversity Goals in Hiring and Promotion".

Beauchamp, in "Affirmative Action Goals in Hiring and Promotion", mentions that empirical studies have reported diversity in the workforce being correlated with which of the following:

According to James P. Sterba in "A Defense of Diversity Affirmative Action" what is/are the potential goal(s) of affirmative action programs

Illegal discrimination occurs whenever one group is arbitrarily and adversely treated differently from another.

Leeser and O'Donohue specify that the Kantian perspective necessitates a certain level of respect for all people that disallows treatment of humans as simply a means to an end.

None of the justifications by Leeser and O'Donohue are adequate to include discrimination of a person on religious grounds.

Which of these statements regarding corporate affirmative action policies would Tom L. Beauchamp most agree with in "Affirmative Action Goals in Hiring and Promotion"

In "Sexual Harassment and Solidarity" Larry May argues that sexual discrimination is wrong on which of these accounts

Give an example of a hostile or abusive work environment as described by Larry May in "Sexual Harassment and Solidarity".

Which ethical theory seems to most centrally play a role in May's objections to sexual harassment. Does an examination of this ethical theory shed any light on the moral wrongdoing committed by sexual harassment

According to Beauchamp, many corporations have replaced "Affirmative action" with what phrase/word