Affirmative action aims to remedy past discrimination and promote equal opportunity in employment and education by giving preferential treatment to minorities and women who have faced unjust mistreatment. Weak affirmative action, which ensures equal consideration without preferences, is less controversial than strong affirmative action, which actively prefers some groups over others to compensate for historical injustices and achieve diversity. Debates around affirmative action consider whether racial preferences for any group are justified or if they can be counterproductive.