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Affirmative action can be traced to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It is an effort to increase opportunities for racial and ethnic groups that face barriers advancing in the workplace and other institutions, including higher education.
In the 1960s, colleges and universities began to set up admissions policies that gave disadvantaged groups more opportunities. There have been legal challenges through the years, and major Supreme Court decisions have narrowed the scope of these policies. Most recently, the court’s ruling in two cases in 2023 severely limited the use of affirmative action in college admissions.
In 2023, Pew Research Center conducted a survey of U.S. adults that included some questions on this topic. This was just before the Supreme Court announced historic decisions on the policies at University of North Carolina and Harvard College.
The survey did not use the term “affirmative action,” because it can be viewed as biased. We asked people whether they approved or disapproved of “selective colleges and universities taking race and ethnicity into account in admissions decisions in order to increase the racial and ethnic diversity at the school.”
- 50% disapprove of this, with 29% saying they strongly disapprove, and 21% saying they disapprove somewhat.
- 33% approve of this, with 11% saying they strongly approve, and 22% saying they approve somewhat.
- 16% say they’re not sure how they feel.
How views differ by race and ethnicity
- 47% of Black adults approve of colleges taking race and ethnicity into account in admissions decisions. This is higher than the shares of Hispanic, Asian or White adults who approve.
- 57% of White adults and a similar share of Asian adults (52%) disapprove of these polices. These shares are higher than the shares for Black and Hispanic adults.
Views on this topic also differ by party: 74% of Republicans and independents who lean Republican disapprove of colleges taking race and ethnicity into account in admissions decisions. By comparison, 29% of Democrats and Democratic leaners disapprove.
How does the public feel about other factors in college admissions?
In an earlier survey, we asked the public about several factors that could be considered in college admissions decisions, beyond race and ethnicity.
Most Americans — 61% — said high school grades should be a major factor in college admissions decisions. About four-in-ten adults – 39% — said standardized test scores should be a major factor in these decisions. Relatively few adults – 7% — said race or ethnicity should be a major factor in admissions decisions. About three-quarters of adults (74%) said this should not be a factor.
- Did anything about this data surprise you?
- Why do you think so many Americans say they’re “not sure” whether they favor or oppose colleges taking race and ethnicity into account in admissions decisions?
- Why do you think views on this issue differ by race and ethnicity?
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Great Job Peter Bell & the Team @ Pew Research Center Source link for sharing this story.
