--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Affirmative action makes employers think…" description: "\"Affirmative action makes employers think, 'Black woman nuclear physicist? Hah! Probably let her into Harvard 'cause they were looking for a twofer. Bet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/p-j-o-rourke-184_action_affirmative-action-makes-employers-think_1507031.jpg" --- # Affirmative action makes employers think, 'Black woman… ![“Affirmative action makes employers think, 'Black woman nuclear physicist? Hah! Probably let her into Harvard 'cause they were looking for a twofer. Bet she got C's in high school practical math. Give her a job in personnel.'” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/p-j-o-rourke-184_action_affirmative-action-makes-employers-think_1507031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/p-j-o-rourke-184_action_affirmative-action-makes-employers-think_1507031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/p-j-o-rourke-184_action_affirmative-action-makes-employers-think_1507031.jpg) > “Affirmative action makes employers think, 'Black woman nuclear physicist? Hah! Probably let her into Harvard 'cause they were looking for a twofer. Bet she got C's in high school practical math. Give her a job in personnel.'” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Affirmative action can be mocked as tokenism, but it also highlights systemic bias and the need for genuine inclusion. **In simple terms:** Affirmative action is often ridiculed but reveals bias. Key Takeaway Promote true meritocracy. Themes social justice education employment Mood satirical critical Type political social When to use this quote - corporate hiring - university admissions Key Concepts diversity equity stereotypes Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations ensure genuine inclusion? - What metrics best assess equitable outcomes? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can undermine policy effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [Bet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bet/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause/) [Employers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employers/) [Employers Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employers-think-1875107/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Harvard Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-cause-5538232/) [Her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/her/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Let Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-harvard-5538233/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Personnel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personnel/) [Physicist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicist/) [Physicist Hah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicist-hah-5538234/) [Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) ## Related quotes > [“Less mutable qualities, like age, may have worked against me too. 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