The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 33% of American Adults think diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better – slightly up from 29% in June 2024 – while 34% now say DEI is making companies worse. Eighteen percent (18% say) DEI programs don’t make much difference and 14% are not sure.
While only a third of Americans believe diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) programs make businesses better, many see white males as the victims of DEI-based discrimination.
DEI policies seek to benefit “historically underrepresented” groups, but 43% of Americans believe it’s likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males, including 26% who say such discrimination is Very Likely. Forty-three percent (43%) don’t think DEI is likely being used as an excuse for discrimination, including 20% who say it’s Not At All Likely, while 14% are not sure.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) are familiar with diversity, equity and inclusion policies, including 36% who are Very Familiar with DEI. Twenty-six percent (23%) aren’t familiar with DEI policies.
Among those who are Very Familiar with DEI policies, 57% consider it at least somewhat likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males.
While 54% of Democrats believe diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better, a majority (51%) of Republicans think DEI is making companies worse. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 34% say DEI is making companies worse, 23% believe it’s making companies better and 19% think DEI programs don’t make much difference.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans, 29% of Democrats and 39% of the unaffiliated say it’s at least somewhat likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males.
Significantly more men (40%) than women (28%) think DEI is making companies worse.
Americans 50 and older are most likely to say they’re Very Familiar with DEI policies. Fifty-three percent (53%) of men 40 and older believe some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males, but just 34% of women under 40 share that belief.
Forty-five percent (45%) of whites, 36% of blacks, 42% of Hispanics and 55% of other minorities consider it at least somewhat like that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males. Blacks are most likely to think diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better.
While 57% of government employees believe DEI is making companies better, only 36% of private sector workers and 31% of retirees share that belief.
While 54% of Democrats believe diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better, a majority (51%) of Republicans think DEI is making companies worse. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 34% say DEI is making companies worse, 23% believe it’s making companies better and 19% think DEI programs don’t make much difference.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans, 29% of Democrats and 39% of the unaffiliated say it’s at least somewhat likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males.
Significantly more men (40%) than women (28%) think DEI is making companies worse.
Americans 50 and older are most likely to say they’re Very Familiar with DEI policies. Fifty-three percent (53%) of men 40 and older believe some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males, but just 34% of women under 40 share that belief.
Forty-five percent (45%) of whites, 36% of blacks, 42% of Hispanics and 55% of other minorities consider it at least somewhat like that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males. Blacks are most likely to think diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better.
While 57% of government employees believe DEI is making companies better, only 36% of private sector workers and 31% of retirees share that belief.
The survey of 1,311 American Adults was conducted on November 13 and 16-17, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. To see survey question wording, click here.
While only a third of Americans believe diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) programs make businesses better, many see white males as the victims of DEI-based discrimination.
DEI policies seek to benefit “historically underrepresented” groups, but 43% of Americans believe it’s likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males, including 26% who say such discrimination is Very Likely. Forty-three percent (43%) don’t think DEI is likely being used as an excuse for discrimination, including 20% who say it’s Not At All Likely, while 14% are not sure.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) are familiar with diversity, equity and inclusion policies, including 36% who are Very Familiar with DEI. Twenty-six percent (23%) aren’t familiar with DEI policies.
Among those who are Very Familiar with DEI policies, 57% consider it at least somewhat likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males.
While 54% of Democrats believe diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better, a majority (51%) of Republicans think DEI is making companies worse. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 34% say DEI is making companies worse, 23% believe it’s making companies better and 19% think DEI programs don’t make much difference.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans, 29% of Democrats and 39% of the unaffiliated say it’s at least somewhat likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males.
Significantly more men (40%) than women (28%) think DEI is making companies worse.
Americans 50 and older are most likely to say they’re Very Familiar with DEI policies. Fifty-three percent (53%) of men 40 and older believe some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males, but just 34% of women under 40 share that belief.
Forty-five percent (45%) of whites, 36% of blacks, 42% of Hispanics and 55% of other minorities consider it at least somewhat like that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males. Blacks are most likely to think diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better.
While 57% of government employees believe DEI is making companies better, only 36% of private sector workers and 31% of retirees share that belief.
While 54% of Democrats believe diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better, a majority (51%) of Republicans think DEI is making companies worse. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 34% say DEI is making companies worse, 23% believe it’s making companies better and 19% think DEI programs don’t make much difference.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans, 29% of Democrats and 39% of the unaffiliated say it’s at least somewhat likely that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males.
Significantly more men (40%) than women (28%) think DEI is making companies worse.
Americans 50 and older are most likely to say they’re Very Familiar with DEI policies. Fifty-three percent (53%) of men 40 and older believe some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males, but just 34% of women under 40 share that belief.
Forty-five percent (45%) of whites, 36% of blacks, 42% of Hispanics and 55% of other minorities consider it at least somewhat like that some companies are using DEI as an excuse to discriminate against white males. Blacks are most likely to think diversity, equity and inclusion programs are making companies better.
While 57% of government employees believe DEI is making companies better, only 36% of private sector workers and 31% of retirees share that belief.
The survey of 1,311 American Adults was conducted on November 13 and 16-17, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. To see survey question wording, click here.
