AVERSIVE RACISM AND RESISTANCE TO AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION - PERCEPTIONS OFJUSTICE ARE NOT NECESSARILY COLOR-BLIND

This study utilized a factorial survey design to assess attitudes towa rd affirmative action as a function of targeted group (Black, handicap ped, or elderly persons), framing of the policy (with or without socia l justification), and institutional context (business, college, or soc ial organization). Resistance to affirmative action was aroused more b y policies specifying Blacks as the targeted group and by policies pre sented without justification. Supportive of the aversive racism framew ork, the level of resistance to the policies presented without justifi cation for Blacks as the targeted group was higher than for all other targeted groups with or without justification. Implications for these findings for strategies to reduce negative attitudes toward affirmativ e action are discussed.