Contemporary Models of Racism: Theoretical Perspectives, Institutional Assessment, and Implications for an Equal Opportunity Environment
Abstract
This research examined three contemporary theories of racism and empirically investigated their relevance to the United States military. The theories expound upon Allport's seminal conceptualization of racial prejudice by exploring subtle dimensions for racial attitudes and behaviors. Aversive, symbolic, and modern racism theories were first reviewed, with particular attention given to their potential impact on institutional discrimination. Next, an institutional assessment was conducted using the Military Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (MEOCS). A factor analysis was used to crate measures of subtle, overt, and institutional racism. Analysis were performed to determine both the existence of the various forms of racism and their influence on discriminatory behaviors. The results showed that subtle racism along with overt racism predicted the level of institutional racism. The implications for creating and maintaining an equal opportunity climate in the military are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 15, 1997
- Accession Number
- AD1072477
Entities
People
- Olenda E. Johnson
Organizations
- Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute