Date of Award
4-1989
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. Lewis Walker
Second Advisor
Subhash Sonnad
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
This study used two contrasting theoretical perspectives in an assessment of college students' attitudes toward affirmative action policies for women and minorities. One perspective was Wellman's (1977) Interest Theory of Discrimination and the other one was based on the Minority Identity Development Model constructed by Atkinson, Morten and Sue ( 198 9) . Survey methods were utilized to gather data from 479 undergraduate students enrolled in a midwestern university. Following the development model, it was argued that white female students and black students (both males and females) would have favorable attitudes toward affirmative action policies because of their minority status. Conversely, following Wellman's "interest theory of discrimination," the attitudes of white male college students would be unfavorable toward affirmative action policies.
The minority identity/true consciousness perspective explains many, but not all, of this study' s findings. That the white female and black college students have not developed "true consciousness" regarding their mutual minority status is suggested by the data. Likewise, Wellman's (1977) interest theory was also useful in explaining some of the findings.
Recommended Citation
Lee, John Porter, "Attitudes of College Students Toward Affirmative Action Policies for Women and Minorities" (1989). Masters Theses. 4065.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4065