This award winning handbook presents the views of both advocates and critics of the argument that government policies can establish gender and racial equality.In Affirmative Action: A Reference Handbook, recent events such as the end of affirmative action in California are examined along with their implications for employees and employers, public contracting, and education. The coverage details the roles of the women's and civil rights movements in shaping affirmative action policies, analyzes major laws and court cases, and profiles key proponents and critics.