A qualitative study of system justification among Italian LGB activists

This article reports findings from qualitative research on system justification processes amongLGB individuals. Through a thematic analysis of nine interviews with self-identified gay men, lesbian and bisexual women from an Italian Arcigay association, we aimed to investigate the levels of system justification and the explanations that sexual minorities give for gender inequality. Limited evidence of system justification was found; instead, participants were aware of being targets of prejudice, which they attributed to patriarchal and heteronormative institutions and culture. Social and temporal comparison emerged as common themes: participants often referred to both intergroup and temporal comparisons to make sense of their condition as a group. Findings are discussed in the context of System Justification Theory and the Social Identity Model of System Attitudes.