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Americans Support Affirmative Action Programs
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States back the concept of affirmative action, according to a poll by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media released by the Associated Press. 56 per cent of respondents favour these programs for racial and ethnic minorities, and 63 per cent support programs for women.
Affirmative action programs provide preferential treatment based on race, gender, colour, ethnicity or national origin in areas such as public employment, education and contracts, in an effort to promote equal opportunity.
Supporters of affirmative action point out that some groups have been historically disadvantaged and require additional assistance, while opponents counter that the programs end up devaluing the achievements of minorities.
Last month, former South African president F. W. de Klerk questioned the use of affirmative action, saying, "To say, equal representation must now be implemented in the social world, the cultural world and the business world. That is, in my opinion, a total distortion of the Constitution. (...) It is, in my opinion, unbalanced and often unconstitutional. Affirmative action must be altered so that it is no longer racist."
Polling Data
Do you generally favour or oppose affirmative action programs for racial and ethnic minorities?
|
Favour |
56% |
|
Oppose |
36% |
|
Unsure |
9% |
Do you generally favour or oppose affirmative action programs for women?
|
Favour |
63% |
|
Oppose |
29% |
|
Unsure |
9% |
Source: GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media / Associated Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from May 28 to Jun. 1, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.