ED5570: Week 2 Discussion 2: Expanded Opportunities: Protected Groups

ED5570: Week 2 Discussion 2: Expanded Opportunities: Protected Groups

Until fairly recently, the vast majority of U.S. college and university students were white

men. At key points in the last 150 years, enrollment changed to include more women

and people of color. However, even with greater overall participation in higher

education, women and African-Americans had limited opportunities until the 1950s and

1960s. Members of other racial and ethnic groups also have experienced quotas or

other limits on their full participation in higher education. In many cases, being married,

being a parent, or having a particular political affiliation was a cause for discrimination.

As a result of several landmark events, many groups became "protected classes" and

have been provided with greater opportunities through the force of law. Many states

have passed additional laws, and individual colleges and universities have enacted

policies prohibiting discrimination in other areas, including sexual orientation, gender

identity, and even genetic information.

As defined by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (n.d.), protected

classes in federal law are:

The groups protected from the [ sic ] employment discrimination by law. These groups

include men and women on the basis of sex; any group which shares a common race,

religion, color, or national origin; people over 40; and people with physical or mental

[disabilities]. Every U.S. citizen is a member of some protected class, and is entitled to

the benefits of EEO [Equal Employment Opportunity] law. However, the EEO laws were

passed to correct a history of unfavorable treatment of women and minority group

members.

Complete the following for this discussion:

● Choose a federally protected class or another group that has experienced discrimination in higher education to write about for your initial post, and find at least two scholarly articles related to that group's evolving access to opportunity. Begin your search by accessing the ED5570: Higher Education in the United States Library Guide (linked in Resources).

● Based on your reading this week and in the articles that you find, identify the most important landmark events that provided opportunities for this group, such as the passage of federal law, a court decision, or a destiny-changing occurrence within a political or social movement.

● Describe the event or events you believe had the greatest bearing on enabling this group to access higher education in the United States. Analyze the nature of the event involved and address the following:

○ Which of these events would you say primarily resulted from social changes? Why?

○ Which events would you say were primarily economically oriented? Why?

○ Which events would you describe as politically based? Why?

Note: Please see attached

Note: 1 reference required

Note: Minimum of 300 words.