An Australian Firm Has Been Accused of Engaging in Prejudicial

question 58

Essay

An Australian firm has been accused of engaging in prejudicial hiring practices against women who have young children, where a young child is defined to be a child less than 12 years of age. According to the most recent census, the percentages of men, women without young children and women with young children in a certain community are 72%, 10% and 18%, respectively. A random sample of 200 employees of the firm revealed that 165 were men, 14 were women without young children and 21 were women with young children. Do the data provide sufficient evidence to conclude at the 1% level of significance that the firm has been engaged in prejudicial hiring practices?

---

Definitions:

John Rawls

An American political philosopher in the liberal tradition, best known for his theory of justice as fairness, which emphasizes a system of cooperation and equality in political and social institutions.

Communitarian

One who holds a theory of society that emphasizes the interdependence of individuals within the context of particular communities. A communitarian view understands the citizen not in terms of his or her rights but rather his or her duties (“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”). In the communitarian view, the self is sometimes understood as a function of society rather than an independent entity.

Libertarian

A political and philosophical stance emphasizing individual freedom and voluntary association with minimal state intervention.

Right

A claim or entitlement justified by law, custom, or morality.