Affirmative Action and Academic Employment: Differentiation of Campus Perceptions in the University of Missouri‪.‬

Background The Civil Rights movement incited the impetus for equality of opportunity in employment, which derived its strength from racial groups that had been victims of discrimination for many years (Spring, 1994). The Civil Rights Movement was a compelling force that motivated the nation's political leaders to enact strong civil rights legislation. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 constituted the first national policy to address racial discrimination in employment. This was followed by federal anti-discrimination legislation in 1972, designed specifically to address problems in higher education (Connor, 1985). Women benefited more from these laws than any other group.