Mobilising Men: Ally Identities and Collective Action in Japan and the Philippines

Danielle P Ochoa,Winnifred R Louis,Eric Julian Manalastas,Makiko Deguchi

doi:10.1017/prp.2018.30

Abstract

Men have an important role as allies in reducing discrimination against women. Following the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA), we examined whether men's identification with women would predict their allied collective action, alongside moral convictions, efficacy, and anger. We also examined whether identification with their own ingroup would decrease their willingness to improve women's situation. We tested the SIMCA, extended to consider ingroup identification among men, in Japan ( N = 103) and the Philippines ( N = 131). Consistent with the SIMCA, moral convictions and group efficacy predicted men's willingness to engage in collective action to fight discrimination against women. However, anger was not significant, and identification with the advantaged and disadvantaged groups played different roles in the two countries. We discuss the possible role of norms and legitimacy in society in explaining the pattern of results.

Highlights

Advantaged groups play an important role as allies in achieving justice for disadvantaged groups, given their relatively greater influence in society (Iyer & Leach, 2010)
According to the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA), collective action tendencies are predicted from four variables: politicised identification, group-based anger at injustices or grievances faced by the group, and group efficacy, alongside moral conviction
Studies of allyship have shown that lower identification with the advantaged group is linked to higher collective guilt, which in turn increases the likelihood of collective action among American students (Mallett et al, 2008) and willingness to compensate for historical injustices, especially when the group’s history towards the disadvantaged group is made salient among Dutch students (Doosje, Branscombe, Spears, & Manstead, 1998)

Summary

Introduction

Advantaged groups play an important role as allies in achieving justice for disadvantaged groups, given their relatively greater influence in society (Iyer & Leach, 2010). Studies of allyship have shown that lower identification with the advantaged group is linked to higher collective guilt, which in turn increases the likelihood of collective action among American students (Mallett et al, 2008) and willingness to compensate for historical injustices, especially when the group’s history towards the disadvantaged group is made salient among Dutch students (Doosje, Branscombe, Spears, & Manstead, 1998) These researchers suggest that low identifiers are less concerned about defending the ingroup (Mallett et al, 2008) and feel less threatened when negative group characteristics are highlighted (Doosje et al, 1998)

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Conclusion