British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
EQUAL MEASURES
Event at the British Academy exposes the global effects of affirmative action for the first time
Women only shortlists; the numbers of working class children admitted to Oxbridge; ethnic minorities in the Met - the debates around affirmative action policies in the UK have continued unabated in recent times.Yet the long term effects of such proposals remain unknown, as British policymakers have rarely sought advice from other countries with long experience in such matters, from the USA to Malaysia.
For the first time ever, in an event hosted by the British Academy, and convened by leading sociologist, Anthony Heath and human rights law expert, Christopher McCrudden, world experts on these issues will come together to share their experiences.
The two day conference Affirmative Action in the Labour Market: International Perspectives on 2-3 November will provide the first major comparative study by leading authorities on this topic. Experts from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Fiji and India will contribute and provide the evidence-based research that UK policymakers so clearly need.
Some of the research presented will also come from closer to home, with a study (funded by the Nuffield Foundation) on the remarkable and innovative programme of affirmative action in Northern Ireland which has used legal enforcement measures to ensure both Catholics and Protestants within the country are ensured ‘fair participation’ in employment. This is a radically different approach to inequality of opportunity than in the rest of the UK.
Professor Anthony Heath, Fellow of the British Academy, said:
'Issues of affirmative action have been at the forefront of recent debates, but those that take place in the UK remain largely ignorant on the effects these policies have. For example, do they actually result in increased participation? Do such measures actually reduce productivity?
'Drawing from international experts, we hope through this event to establish what lessons there are for Britain and the EC in tackling the issue of racial and sexual discrimination and ethnic disadvantage in employment.'
NOTES TO EDITORS
Published:
29 October 2009
- For further information, interview requests, or press passes for the event, please contact: Kate Turnbull, Press and PR Manager: 0207 969 5263/k.turnbull@britac.ac.uk
- Affirmative Action in the Labour Market: International Perspectives takes place at the British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace on 2-3 November from 10.30am-6.00pm each day. The conference is co-funded by the British Academy and the Nuffield Foundation. The event is free, but registration is required at: www.britac.ac.uk/events/2009/affirmative-action/
- Professor Anthony Heath FBA is a sociologist who specialises in the quantitative analysis of survey data, with a particular interest in ethnic and religious inequalities. With Sin Yi Cheung he edited Unequal Chances: Ethnic Minorities in Western Labour Markets for the British Academy.
- Professor Christopher McCrudden FBA is a specialist in human rights law and recently published Buying Social Justice.