Whites' Opposition to Affirmative Action: Rejection of Group-based Preferences as well as Rejection of Blacks

This study addresses whether whites' rejection of affirmative action reflects an opposition to group-based preferences per se, independent of their attitudes toward blacks. Analysis of 1996 General Social Survey data shows that whites' attitude toward preferential hiring and promotion of blacks is predicted by their attitude toward preferential hiring and promotion of women. This finding remains unchanged when controlling for racial and other attitudes, and it holds regardless of gender. The conclusion is that whites' rejection of racial preferences reflects both rejection of blacks and rejection of group-based preferences in general, regardless of the target group.