Asian American Attitudes toward Affirmative Action in Employment

Abstract

The authors applied the Fishbein and Ajzen theory of attitudes to understand Asian Americans' beliefs and attitudes toward affirmative action programs (AAPs) in employment, emphasizing the (dis)similarity of Asians' attitudes to those of Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. In two studies involving more than 1,000 participants, the authors found evidence of greater attitudinal similarity among Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics than between Asians and Whites. Asian U.S. citizens reported significantly more experience with workplace discrimination than did Whites, about the same as Hispanics, and less than Blacks. These reports of discrimination were significantly and positively correlated with attitude toward AAPs. These results, which are contrary to the Model Minority Myth, are discussed along with implications for further research and for affirmative action practices.