Disclosing Invisible Attributes Leads to Discrimination

Abstract Despite extensive research on discrimination, little is known about how disclosing invisible attributes, such as religion, socio-economic class, and sexual orientation, affects others’ discriminatory attitudes. This study examines the case of Zainichi Koreans in Japan, descendants of Korean migrants who remained in Japan after World War II under special permanent residency status. Zainichi Koreans face a dilemma: whether to disclose their ethnic identity by using a Korean name ( honmy $\bar o$ ) or attempt to conceal it with a Japanese pseudonym ( ts $\bar u$ mei ). Using two conjoint experiments with hypothetical job applicants, we find strong discriminatory attitudes against Zainichi Koreans based solely on their names. However, these biases are significantly reduced among individuals with frequent social contact with Zainichi Koreans. Our findings underscore the need to further move beyond visible attributes in research on discrimination and social contact. More broadly, this study provides a framework for examining bias against invisible identities in diverse global contexts.