Well, there is the competition for the goodies!  

The US Supreme Court lawsuit from Texas last  year gave preference to the Black (a 'protected class')  law school applicant over the Female (a 'protected' class) law school applicant when the affirmative action stuff hit the wall! 

 Even though her other qualifications exceeded his.  

With all these 'protected classes' you almost have to be able to claim more than one 'class'  to get ahead of the qualified people anymore.   

It isn't like in the olden days when Senator Pocahontas only had to claim one class to be selected over the other applicants!