What was the aim of affirmative action?

The aim of affirmative action is primarily centered around the intention to correct the effects of past discrimination. This concept was developed as a response to historical inequalities faced by marginalized groups, including racial minorities and women, in various aspects of society, such as education, employment, and government contracting. The objective is to provide these groups with access to opportunities they may have been systematically denied due to biases and discriminatory practices in the past.

By implementing affirmative action policies, institutions seek to level the playing field, ensuring that individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds can compete fairly. This often involves setting specific goals, utilizing outreach efforts, and sometimes considering race or gender as one factor among others in admissions or hiring processes. The ultimate intention is to create a more equitable environment that acknowledges previous injustices and works toward rectifying those disparities through proactive measures.

While the other options may touch upon related goals—such as promoting equal opportunities or enhancing educational standards—they do not capture the core intent of affirmative action, which is to address the lingering impacts of prior discrimination directly.