Defending the Status Quo: Prevalence of System Justification Attitudes in the Radio Industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study employs system justification theory to investigate how current and former radio broadcasting professionals perceive the equity and fairness of the industry’s homophilous hiring and employment practices. Results of a survey (N = 143) of radio professionals found men view current employment patterns within the radio industry to be equitable, while women found radio hiring practices to be discriminatory. White men were more likely than other groups to blame women for their own lack of representation, but perceived the underrepresentation of people of color as a systemic problem. Higher levels of system justification were positively related to higher levels of stereotyping.