Pursuing Equal Opportunities
The Theory and Practice of Egalitarian Justice

This book offers original and innovative contributions to the debate about equality of opportunity.

Lesley A. Jacobs (Author)

9780521530217, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 10 November 2003

296 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.407 kg

'… the book is thorough, accessible and clearly written.' Political Studies Review

Pursuing equality is an important challenge for any modern democratic society but this challenge faces two sets of difficulties: the theoretical question of what sort of equality to pursue and for whom; and the practical question concerning which legal and political institutions are the most appropriate vehicles for implementing egalitarian social policy and thus realizing egalitarian justice. This book offers original and innovative contributions to the debate about equality of opportunity. The first part of the book sets out a theory of equality of opportunity that presents equal opportunities as a normative device for the regulation of competition for scarce resources. The second part shifts the focus to the consideration of the practical application by courts or legislatures or public policy makers of policies for addressing racial, class or gender injustices. The author examines standardized tests, affirmative action, workfare, universal health-care, comparable worth, and the economic consequences of divorce.

1. Introduction
2. Equal opportunities as a regulative ideal
3. Equal opportunity without natural inequalities
Part I. Race: 4. Equal opportunities and civil rights: merit, standardized tests, and higher education
5. Integration, diversity, and affirmative action
Part II. Class: 6. Justifying workfare
7. Universal access to health care
Part III. Gender: 8. Gender inequalities in the workplace
9. Equal opportunities after divorce.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS]