ABSTRACT
The notion of reverse discrimination in general requires closer attention for muddled and resistable as author argues, it is frequently appealed to, particularly in relation to treatment of women, treatment of ethnic minorities and provision of schooling. The phrase used may vary-'reverse discrimination', 'affirmative action', 'positive discrimination'-but the idea remains the same. Positive discrimination introduces the idea that what in itself might be agreed to be partial or preferential treatment can be justified by reference to past sufferings, socially fostered inequalities, possibly, simply gross current disadvantage. In a typical case of reverse discrimination, an identifiable group of persons are agreed to have been discriminated against in the past, in consequence of which they are now to be given extra advantage. Arguments for reverse discrimination tend to confuse the claim that some people never had a real chance in life with the faintly ridiculous claim that those who have proven, for whatever reason, less able, should be given a compensatory advantage.
