Women in the District feel unaffected by latest Supreme Court affirmative action ruling

Few people realize that affirmative action is geared towards women as well as minorities.Mary Ann Branch is a young professional in Washington, D.C., working as an assistant to a Capitol Hill lobbyist. She knows that in order to achieve her goals, she must work hard, be smart and stay on top of her field.

While Branch is white, she does not see her race and gender as any type of hindrance to achieving her goals. When she heard about the affirmative action decisions regarding the University of Michigan's undergraduate and law school admissions programs, she praised them.

"Good for the Supreme Court," she said. "I think diversity is very important in America today and people of all races should have the chance to meet and work together."

However, when it was pointed out to her that the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action have been white women, she looked puzzled.

"Really", she said sipping a cup of coffee at Union Station train station. "I don't see myself as a minority because I'm white and a female, which are majorities in this country."

Branch's assessment is quite common among those surveyed regarding the affirmative action decisions.

However, Branch and other women like her may feel the effect of a recent ruling by the Supreme Court that approved the upholding of the University of Michigan's law school affirmative action policy and disapproved of the school's undergraduate affirmative action policy.

While studies conducted by the Labor Departments during the 1960s and into the 90s show that white women benefit the most from programs that give preference to minorities and women in employment and government contracts, many white women, especially young ones are unaware of this fact.

The National Organization for Women praised the affirmative action decision as "another step for equality for women." Even Republican women's groups have praised the decision.

To Joann Moser, who works at the Smithsonian Museum, affirmative action is for people of color.

"I was elated about the decision of the Supreme Court," she said. "This decision will really help my daughter because she goes to a university that does not have the diversity that it should have, but the decision will help."

But point out to Moser that her daughter will probably benefit more from affirmative action's affirmation than any minority male, she seemed confused.

"I know there are laws on the books to help women," she said citing Title IV," but the civil rights laws do not apply to white women."

Wrong, according to Wade Henderson of the Leadership Council on Civil Rights.

"If you look at the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it clearly states that discrimination is outlawed on the basis of race, creed, religion and sex," he said.

"It's funny how white women do not see themselves as part of the civil rights struggle because what has made the Civil Rights Acts so powerful."

Women are the majority of the population and white women are about 75 percent of the women in the United States. They are also the largest group in the workforce, at 45 percent. White men make up 40 percent.

But according to the Small Business Administration, women own 12 percent of businesses. There are only a handful of women who run Fortune 500 companies.

In politics, women are not represented well according to their numbers. There are 12 women U.S. senators and 51 congresswomen.

While state legislatures are better, with 15 percent being women, a woman governor is still a novelty.

When given these statistics, Branch said the numbers were low, but blamed lack of initiative, not lack of opportunity.

Branch said she categorized discrimination against women as sexism and therefore not covered by the civil rights acts. But she was relieved to hear that the affirmative action laws do apply to her.

Both Branch and Moser hope there comes a day when affirmative action is no longer needed, and that everyone will be judged by their work, and not by their race, creed, color, or sex.

Contact James Wright at district_chronicles@hotmail.com.