Shared Disadvantage, Shared Identity? Explaining When and Why White Americans Support Affirmative Action
Previous research suggests that at least some opposition to race-based affirmative action is driven by whites’ racial identity, with less attention devoted to how class interests might shape their opinions. Stephens-Dougan will investigate white opposition to affirmative action by studying their reactions to non-race-based selection policies, such as class-based affirmative action and legacy admissions. Unlike race-based affirmative action, these policies have the potential for low-income whites to perceive shared interests with Blacks.