Privilege or Discrimination? Unraveling the Palliative Mechanism of Gender System Justification among Japanese Women

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.