Tenure, Race/Ethnicity and Attitudes toward Affirmative Action: A Matter of Self-Interest?

Abstract

The present study, which surveyed members of the American Psychological Association who work in academic positions, examined the hypothesis that, due to the effects of self- and collective-interest, the attitudes of White, African American, Hispanic, and Asian faculty toward affirmative action would be moderated by tenure status. Hypotheses were partially confirmed. Untenured African Americans demonstrated some- what more supportfor affirmative action than did tenured African Americans. However, like Whites, untenured Hispanics and Asians were less supportive of affirmative action than their tenured colleagues. As expected, White men were less supportive of affirmative action than White women or African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Discussion considered how the perceived benefits and costs of affirmative action may differ for different ethniclracial groups.