Who Believes in Meritocracy? Race, Gender, and the Paradox of Advantage

• In Event: Inequality, Poverty, and Mobility Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 15. Meritocracy

Abstract

Studies of beliefs in meritocracy have been central to sociological investigations and have received increasing scrutiny in recent years. Using data from the 2024 General Social Survey, we examine the general beliefs in meritocracy with an intersectional analysis of race and gender. Our study reveals a clear gender gap: women are more likely than men to endorse the view that hard work determines success. Contrary to conventional expectations, Hispanic and Black women exhibit the highest levels of meritocratic belief, while white men do not. Controlling for socioeconomic characteristics, workplace factors, and political and equality attitudes attenuates but does not eliminate these patterns. The findings suggest that meritocracy belief operates not only as a legitimating ideology of advantage but also as a culturally adaptive framework across intersectional social locations.

Authors

• Song Yang, University of Arkansas

• Alexia Angton, University of Arkansas