affirmative action

• POS: Noun Phrase

CIDE DICTIONARY

affirmative action, n. 

 a policy of making active efforts to improve the employment or educational opportunities available to members of minority groups or women; -- achieved by employers or schools by using various techniques, but excluding the use of simple quotas or outright discrimination against white males.
"affirmative action is required by law for certain employers in the United States."  [PJC]