Privilege or Discrimination? Unraveling the Palliative Mechanism of Gender System Justification among Japanese Women
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Research has shown that Japanese women often experience high levels of life satisfaction by justifying their country's gender disparity hierarchy. This study explored the mechanisms underlying the palliative function of gender system justification (GSJ). We hypothesized that perception of personal discrimination would mediate the relationship between GSJ and life satisfaction. Contrary to our hypothesis, perception of personal gender‐based privilege, not discrimination, mediated this relationship (Studies 1, 2a, and 2b). Neither perceptions of in‐group discrimination nor privilege mediated the relationship (Studies 2a and 2b). Additionally, no significant mediating effects were observed among men (Studies 1, 2a, and 2b). Across three studies, women who strongly endorse the gender system reported higher life satisfaction by perceiving themselves as personally privileged compared to women who weakly endorsed it. We discuss the possibility that Japan's significant gender gap might contribute to Japanese women perceiving themselves as privileged.
Source: Japanese Psychological Research
DOI: 10.1111/jpr.70018
Authors: Yasuko Morinaga, Makoto Hirakawa
Institutions: Hiroshima Bunkyo University, Hiroshima University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: Refinement of the concept of inclusion and examination of the functions, Psychological Mechanisms Underlying the Perpetuation of Gender Disparity: The Palliative Function of System Justification among Japanese Women, A Social Psychological Study of Women's Career Choice and Gender Gap Maintenance
OpenAlex ID: W7127644391