Fairness revisionism: Reducing discrimination for the future reduces perceived unfairness in the past

Abstract

Marginalized groups may face systemic discrimination for generations until concrete advancements in society finally ensure fairer treatment for their members. Although fairness advancements may benefit these groups in the present and future, they do not change the past; they cannot undo the discrimination already experienced by previous generations. However, five studies (N = 1672) suggest that fairness advancements that benefit a marginalized group may change how its members perceive their own prior experiences with discrimination, leading them to see these experiences as having been fairer compared to when there are no such advancements. We find evidence of this revisionism of unfair past experiences in different historically marginalized groups (women and immigrants) and cultural contexts (U.S., U.K., and China). Critically, fairness revisionism arises even when fairness advancements have no objective impact on individuals themselves, as long as there are benefits for current and future members of their social group. Fairness revisionism does not arise, however, in response to gains for marginalized groups to which one does not belong, nor when individuals assess fairness in other groups' past experiences from an outsider's perspective. Overall, this phenomenon may be a double-edged sword: it may provide peace of mind for those treated unfairly by assuaging the memory of adverse experiences, but may also make discrimination issues in society seem less pressing based on the perspective of victims themselves.