Reassessing Gender Bias in Japanese Spousal Terms: A Replication of Nin and Mori (2025) with Elderly Participants

Abstract

This study replicated Nin and Mori (2025), which used a paper-based Implicit Association Test (FUMIE test) to examine gender bias in Japanese spousal terms. While the original study involved undergraduates, the present study targeted older citizens aged 40 and above. Forty-three participants completed two FUMIE tests assessing implicit preferences for the traditional terms shujin–kanai and the more neutral otto–tsuma. The results largely mirrored those of younger participants: both age groups showed stronger associations favoring male-oriented terms. However, older female participants still implicitly preferred shujin over kanai, while showing no preference between otto and tsuma. Younger females in Nin and Mori (2025), by contrast, showed no significant preference for both pairs. These findings suggest a generational shift toward gender neutrality in implicit attitudes among Japanese women. Despite this trend, both older and younger males continued to associate male spousal terms more positively. The study highlights the value of implicit measures in detecting subtle gender biases across age groups in Japanese society.