Relationship Between Relative Deprivation and Well-Being of Women: Role of Gender System Justification

Abstract

Subjective well-being is defined as individuals' evaluations of their happiness. Exposure to discrimination is a factor that negatively affects one's subjective well-being. Recent research indicated that women who are exposed to gender discrimination are affected negatively in terms of their subjective well-being. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between women's perception of gender-based relative deprivation and their subjective well-being and the mediator role of the tendency to justify the gender system in this relationship. The sample consisted of 328 voluntary female participants. The participants completed questionnaires, including Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Gender System Justification Scale, Relative Deprivation Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Obtained results indicated that as the gender-based relative deprivation increased, the level of subjective well-being decreased (B = -0.10, SE = 0.04). Moreover, the gender system justification mediated the relationship between gender-based relative deprivation and women's subjective well-being levels [lower limit (LL) CI: -0.1956, upper limit (UL) CI: -0.0209]. In conclusion, women who believe that they are subjected to gender-based discrimination may question the existing gender system in the society and in this framework, their subjective well-being levels are likely to decrease.