Support for group equality far exceeds support for individual equality among White Americans

Evidence

Social dominance theory focuses on attitudes toward equality for groups rather than individuals (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999). Its central construct, “social dominance orientation,” is partly constituted by opposition to equal treatment for groups, and measured with items (which, if disagreed with, indicate a social dominance orientation) such as “It would be good if groups could be equal” and “We should do what we can to equalize conditions for different groups.” In general, support for equal treatment for groups receives far more support than does the notion of equal treatment of individuals, and indeed is almost unanimous, supported by an average of 89 percent of Whites in one survey (Sears et al., 2000). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2182

Its central construct, “social dominance orientation,” is partly constituted by opposition to equal treatment for groups, and measured with items (which, if disagreed with, indicate a social dominance orientation) such as “It would be good if groups could be equal” and “We should do what we can to equalize conditions for different groups.” In general, support for equal treatment for groups receives far more support than does the notion of equal treatment of individuals, and indeed is almost unanimous, supported by an average of 89 percent of Whites in one survey (Sears et al., 2000). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2182

Categorization

• QUESTION: Why do people support group equality more than individual equality? Is it because unequal individual outcomes are normalized as meritocracy while group disparity implies systemic bias?
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2182; , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2182