Knowledge Bank

This research focuses on women’s engagement in system justification, using two studies to examine how gender system threat and personal control can affect the levels of economic and gender system justification as well as negative affect/emotions. Study 1(N=65) exposed women to gender threat (sexist ideologies- hostile, benevolent, and complementary) and subsequently measured engagement in justification behaviors. Study 2 (N=60) examined gender specific trait stereotypes and experimentally activated system justification motivation by threatening women’s perceptions of the fairness of gender relations. Furthermore, the studies tested the effect of personal control on levels of system justification behaviors. Study 1 results showed that participants who scored higher on complementary sexism scales endorsed higher levels of gender system justification. Study 2 results indicated that participants who had high levels of personal control (vs. no personal control) exhibited high levels of gender system justification. This research has implications for general social change, social policies, and specific communities by providing a pathway to reduce inequalities in the society.