Is affirmative action doomed to fail because the prejudices it seeks to overcome are so strong?
This is not so, as pointed out by Pratkanis and Turner (1995). • Not all the help offered by affirmative action is self-threatening and implies inferiority. For example, help directed at a burdensome situation as opposed to help directed to an individual demonstrates social support and concern with long-term change. • Affirmative action that focuses in both word and deed on the proactive removal of discriminatory barriers and the promotion of social institutions supporting positive intergroup relations will result in greater success than passive policies.
