Affirmative Action and Job Satisfaction: Self-Interested v. Public Spirited Perspectives on Social Equity—Some Sobering Findings from the Academic Workplace

Abstract

This study utilizes a national study of university faculty, including a sizeable proportion of Afro-American and female respondents, to examine university faculty attitudes toward affir mative action. It has been argued by some that self-interested motivations underlie attitudes about affirmative action policies, while others have argued that "public spirit" (Kelman, 1987) and "other regarding" (Wilson and Banfield, 1964) motivations more properly serve to account for attitudes relating to social equity and societal welfare issues. University faculty were chosen as a particularly appropriate group to study; if any segment of society is likely to be public spirited in this way it is likely to be the best educated among us. The central question to be investigated is: how do individuals embedded in a meritocratic system such as the University perceive affirmative action and the benefits and harms it holds for both white males and protected category persons? How, in turn, does this set of attitudes about affirmative action affect the job satisfaction of white male professors? The results indicate that little "pub lic spirit" is in evidence, suggesting that future implementation of this policy will hold only continued conflict for Academe. Somewhat fortunate, however, is the finding that job satisfac tion for white males is little related to their views on affirmative action.