The Lady Vanishes

Moral licensing allows individuals and institutions to justify unethical behavior after performing a single virtuous act, creating a cycle of tokenism that undermines long-term progress. When the Royal Academy showcased Elizabeth Thompson’s painting *The Roll Call*, it signaled an opening for women in art, yet the institution subsequently blocked her membership and tightened exclusionary regulations. Similarly, the election of Julia Gillard as Australia’s first female Prime Minister provided a veneer of progress that licensed critics to unleash unprecedented gendered abuse. This psychological phenomenon explains why institutions often welcome a single outsider to prove their inclusivity, only to slam the door shut immediately afterward. By treating these milestones as sufficient evidence of equality, society grants itself permission to revert to discriminatory practices, effectively stalling systemic change while maintaining a self-congratulatory image of fairness.