Gender and racial ethnic differences in the affirmative action attitudes of US college students

Most of the literature on affirmative action focuses on European American adults' opposition to it. This study extends that focus by investigating gender and racial/ethnic differences in college students' support for affirmative action in higher education. Multivariate analysis of data from a diverse sample (N = 290) found greater differences along racial/ethnic than gender lines. European and Asian American students expressed greater opposition to affirmative action; African and Hispanic American students were more supportive. Asian Americans shaved with Whites race-related orientations that predisposed them to their oppositional views. Hispanics shared orientations with African Americans that predisposed their support of affirmative action. The need to clarify the multiracial/ethnic context of the debate over higher education affirmative action is supported.