Affirmative Action: Words Matter
EmailDo you generally favor or oppose affirmative action programs for racial and ethnic minorities?
Let me put that another way: Do you think affirmative action programs that give preferences to blacks and other minorities in hiring, promotions and college admissions should be continued, or do you think these affirmative action programs should be abolished?
If you think that’s the same question twice, think again: They were asked in separate polls this week – and produced almost precisely opposite results. With the affirmative action debate newly enlivened by Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court, it’s worth cutting through the conflict to see what’s up with public opinion.
The Associated Press asked the first question in a poll it completed Monday. Result: 56 percent of Americans favor affirmative action, it reported, with 36 percent opposed. But Quinnipiac University asked the second question in a poll it completed the same day. Result: 55 percent of Americans oppose affirmative action, it reported, with 36 percent in favor.
The good news is that this is not so hard to pick apart. “Affirmative action” is a euphemism, chock full of positive-attribute bias and not truly descriptive of what it means. Ask it without elaboration and it sounds pretty good to plenty of people. In polling, though, measuring the appeal of euphemisms is maybe not the best way to go.
“Preferences” over others in hiring and the like, on the other hand, is a far less appealing proposition. Ask about it and you get overwhelming opposition – 80 percent, for instance, in polls we did in the late '80s and '90s.
What Quinnipiac did – an approach we ourselves have used for many years – is to split the difference, asking about “affirmative action programs” (positive bias) “that give preferences” (negative bias). This doesn’t really eliminate the bias in these phrases; it sort of averages it, which in a situation like this is about the best you can do.
More important is that there’s more to know.
We asked it ourselves, this way, last September: “Do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preference to racial minorities in areas such as hiring, promotions and college admissions?” We got 50 opposed, 44 percent in support.
Interestingly, though, when we asked about such programs being based on income, not race, support shot up to 63 percent. And when we asked about such programs, based on race, but giving “assistance but not preference,” support hit 67 percent. (An aside: hiring, promotions and college admissions are different things, and ideally should be measured separately. But life is short, questionnaires get long and we’ve gotten nearly identical results when measuring "hiring" and "college admissions" separately.)
There are, of course, differences in views of these programs among racial groups. But either income-based preference programs, or race-based assistance programs without preferences, both earned significant majority support in our survey from whites, blacks and Hispanics alike.
The upshot: In issues like this, as in many others, words do matter – along with the substance behind them.
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Where are the people that you poll all of the time? No one I know ever gets polled for any of this !! All I know anymore, is that if you’re just a plain white, working, taxpaying, insurance carrying, home owning, American – you have NO RIGHTS !!!! Everyone else BUT a white American has them ALL! Pretty disgusting if you ask me !!
Posted by: Midwest Taxpayer | June 5, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
They were two different polls by two different companies along with two sets of different responders. If each poll was done again the results would still differ.
Posted by: William Creel | June 5, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Why do I feel as though the older Caucasian people will truly be the minorities quite soon? I am pleased to see the new mixed race that is in full swing. One race The American race is something I may not see but hopefully my children will. My one question to all is; How will these older caucasian people be treated as a minority? Will other ethnic peoples try to use pay back or will the same rules apply! Think about it!!!
Posted by: newbob | June 5, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
I think that now days 2009 our minorities are much smarter and can pass the tests with as much ease as whites. I don’t think the affirmaty action applies anymore. They are equal, look at Obama…he is the poster child for not needing affirmaty action any longer. Years ago schooling was poor for minorities and they suffered educationally. Now in 2009 education is much better.
Posted by: Sharon | June 5, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
I support fair hiring of qualified individuals, however, if too many of a certain gender and race have been allowed to fill positions there sould be some type of intervention. You may call it affirmative action. I call it fair hiring practice under the law.
Posted by: Mrs. C. H. Osborne | June 5, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Well said, Sharon !! We had a ‘people who care’ school thing here in our city a few years ago, that took neighborhood schools away, and bussed kids all over the city, so that they all got a ‘more fair’ chance at an equal education. Needless to say, it failed miserably, and now for the 09 – 10 school year, we’re going back to the neighborhood schools. In the meantime, my kids attended a school that had an ‘accelererated’ program, and the kids ‘bussed in’ couldn’t keep up. So my WASP children were taught ‘down-to’ to accomodate the others. What a bunch of crap !! I’m so sick of everyone getting a ‘fair’ and ‘equal’ chance but the poor old white people. Bravo to you, Sharon!! More of us need to stick together. I see NAACP out there, but not a ‘NAA W P’, that would be racist………..says who??
Posted by: Kathy | June 5, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
My question is:
WHAT HAPPENED TO EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WHITE PEOPLE????????????????
Posted by: Inquiring one | June 5, 2009, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
Did a survey in the mid-1990s in Florida when Ward Connerly was circulating petitions to end affirmative action. I used the term “abolish” in that question and the interviewers found that people did not understand the term. They had people who said they supported affirmative action saying they wanted it abolished. This convinced us that the question was flawed by use of the term abolish. Perhaps if they said “ended” it would turn out differently. There is a reason for using the 6th grade reading level in surveys. I use this as an example in teaching undergraduate research methods.
Posted by: Suzie | June 5, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
We will never be a “color blind” nation as long as one group receives special treatment over another. The left seems to think the one who gets the job has received the special treatment even when that person is the most qualified. I believe special treatment is given when employees are given the same test and the one who excells is passed over for the one who tested lowest.
Posted by: Lee | June 5, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Where are the rights of white people? How anyone can ask such stupid questions is beyond the understanding of any intelligent person, and, only a dumb, blind white male would ask if we should retain affirmative action. Look at the Supreme Court for the past two hundred years, all white males until 1967 when when one Black male was seated. White females were not selected until 1981 and 1993. Nothing to brag about. Look at corporate America, until recently all supervisors, middle and upper management and the executive level all WHITE MALES. I worked for forty years for the major telecommunications company and all my supervisors were white males, the only white females were us secretaries. Until late 1980 did we get a white female supervisor and it shocked the sh– out of must of us–until we found out her father was one of the VPs. The minorities were made up of cleaningladies and janitors. Look at the trades, if you were not the son, nephew, grandson of a untion member you did not have a chance. The trade schools and the trades consisted of all white males, not even white females could get in. I know because I was on the Board of “Women In Trades” and it took us many, many years of fighting in court to finally get females into the trade schools and finally some into the working trades. The better question would have been–how many females and minorities are in Congress, are in upper management in corporations, are on Boards, make up the trades, or, are police or fire personnel. Let’s face it and admit it white males still dominate in high percentages and greater numbers than white females or minorities and only some dumb male would ask such a dumb question. Anyone who has worked fifty years or more knows that!
Posted by: Ann M. | June 5, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
I’m not white and I am a “working, taxpaying, insurance carrying, home owning, American” who lives here in the Midwest. I don’t believe that my rights are being infringed in this administration or the previous one.
Enough of you Limbaugh ditto-heads with the false rhetoric of white people losing “all” of their rights while being the only people who are working hard and paying taxes.
Posted by: Another Midwest Taxpayer | June 5, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
It’s really simple. If you have the qualifications and a strong work ethic, you should have the job. Period. It’s not brain surgery. I’d like to see a Miss White America pageant or a Whit college fund and see what happens.
Posted by: Kathy | June 5, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
Thanks glasman for your oh so intewlligent input.
Affirmative action has outlived its usefulness—now we just simply implement the law.
Posted by: azcowboy | June 5, 2009, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
The person that says if you’re “white, taxpaying, homeowner…..you have no rights anymore. bull hockey ! Affirmative Action was meant to level the playing ground for those who were discrimated against, to include (WHITE WOMEN !) The minority and women have been left out in the boardrooms, CEO’s you name it. Especially as long as you have racist in charge of overseeing government agencies, responsible for hiring and firing in the public sector, own businesses, etc. The Affirmative Action law was not meant to exclude anyone, just make those listed above do the right thing. However, there are those out there that simply refuse to do the right thing no matter what.
Posted by: ifjt | June 17, 2009, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
We do not need affirmative action. We need equal opportunity for all! Judge Sotamayor proved that affirmative action does not work! She overrulled actual test scores to fit a mold. Affirmative in the 21st century only makes racism worse, not better. We need to judge on the merits and the characters, and the education. If we have a problem with education, then fix that system, for those not getting it fairly, otherwise, we continue the injustices we claim!
Posted by: GammySparkles | June 22, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
question is:
WHAT HAPPENED TO EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WHITE PEOPLE????????????????-0———
You had 43 presidents, countless white governors, only two black supreme court judges, one died, and the other well aint really black, no latino’s runing anything America. And you ask, What happen to equal rights for white. What the heck are you talking about. YOu created the laws, if your judicial and appellate system. You are the heads of major corporations, you have been in charge of this country since the mayflower, and you’re saying you have no rights. Are you nuts? When minorities like hispanics have to risk life and limb to migrate here, when blacks have to deal with discrimination in pay, and job promotions. When women are still being being paid less than men. Oh, women are the beneficiaries of AA not Black men, but they still get paid less than me. And, you have the audacity to say you have no rights. Let me go to a small town in Georgia, with legal degree and look for work and I am the most qualified person who applied, how much you’re willing to bet I will get passed over for a white person who is not qualified. Finally, blacks only make 10 pct of the country and latinos make about 12, the remaining 70 pct belongs to you, what exactly are you talking about again.
SMH!
Posted by: Inquiring one | Jun 5, 2009 12:47:53 PM
Posted by: nubiangent08 | June 24, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Well said, Sharon !! We had a ‘people who care’ school thing here in our city a few years ago, that took neighborhood schools away, and bussed kids all over the city, so that they all got a ‘more fair’ chance at an equal education. Needless to say, it failed miserably, and now for the 09 – 10 school year, we’re going back to the neighborhood schools. In the meantime, my kids attended a school that had an ‘accelererated’ program, and the kids ‘bussed in’ couldn’t keep up. So my WASP children were taught ‘down-to’ to accomodate the others. What a bunch of crap !! I’m so sick of everyone getting a ‘fair’ and ‘equal’ chance but the poor old white people. Bravo to you, Sharon!! More of us need to stick together. I see NAACP out there, but not a ‘NAA W P’, that would be racist………..says who??
Posted by: Kathy | Jun 5, 2009 12:43:52 PM——————–
No such thing as poor white kids. White people are the majority in this country, based on skin color alone you or children have enormous advantegous. When a black man who is college educated, no criminal history, is passed over for a white male exconvict, with a no education and experience, for the same job. Secondly, the last I checked America in general is still governed white men, at 49 of 50 governorships, 99 Senators, and whatever. Your comments are absurd and prove again, that you all making a poor excuse for hating blacks. You noted the NACCP, the current NACCP is headed by a white woman. Lastly, you have plenty organizations, and governments looking out for your interest: Supreme Court, the U.S. Senate, your governor, your state legislators, and your U.S. constitution, so dont sit in here and complain about AA when you dont even understand its actual purpose, also white women are the primary beneficiaris of AA. Also, AA has nothing to do with kids being bused to schools. Had the school districts in your state been fair and equal in educating students, you would be in here. STWP you are.
Posted by: nubiangent08 | June 29, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
I think affirmative action was badly needed in the past but now with all the special programs out there to help people I think we need to make some adjustments. I don’t believe tests should be structured to help the minorities. If minorities can figure out what they are now entitled to in the United States, they should be smart enough to study for an exam. There are all kinds of programs out there to help minorities learn English, find jobs, etc. I think job hiring should still be monitored to make sure that people are being hired on their skills and not on their race but I think that it is time for many people to stand up, get educated and study for a promotion, not feel they should get it because they are a minority. Anyway, the group that was once a minority will soon be a majority so will the new minority now be enitled to these special programs?
Posted by: talmag | July 7, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm