The Measurement of Institutional Discrimination
Abstract
This paper presents a method for measuring institutional discrimination, and presents examples of its use. despite assertions, the goal of racial equality is closer to fulfillment in the armed forces than in any other American Institution, critics of the military continue to point to discrimination against black servicemen and women within the military establishment. Weigert's analysis of a survey of 459 black American soldiers stationed in Germany in 1970 found that 41 percent felt that there were better opportunities for blacks in civilian institutions than in the military. An additional 39 percent rated the two about equal, and only 20 percent felt they had better prospects in the military. An ARI survey of 3,845 enlisted personnel, conducted worldwide, in 1972, presented a somewhat more positive view of the Army compared to civilian institutions, although the data are not directly comparable. Nineteen percent of the black respondents in the ARI survey felt that race problems were worse in the Army than in the rest of society, and 46 percent felt that they were about the same. However, in comparing the treatment of blacks and whites within the Army, 72 percent of the black respondents felt that blacks are treated worse than whites in the Army, and only 1 percent felt that blacks were treated better.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA076788
Entities
People
- David R. Segal
- Peter G. Nordlie
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences