Discriminations

Discrimination is the unequal or unfair treatment of people based on perceived membership in a group. It can occur in everyday interactions or through formal policies. Common bases include race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and nationality. Discrimination may be intentional or the result of biased systems.

Discrimination is often described as direct or indirect. Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated unfavorably specifically because of a protected characteristic. Indirect discrimination happens when a neutral rule disadvantages a group in practice, even without intent. Some frameworks also recognize systemic or structural discrimination.

Discrimination appears in many domains, including employment, education, housing, health care, and criminal justice. It can limit opportunities, access to services, and life prospects. It may be overt or hidden and can affect people with multiple intersecting identities, producing compounded effects.

Many countries regulate discrimination through anti-discrimination or equal-opportunity laws. These prohibit unfair treatment in key areas and define protected characteristics. Enforcement includes complaints processes, remedies such as accommodations or desegregation measures, and, in some cases, affirmative action. Scope and enforcement vary by jurisdiction.

Efforts to reduce discrimination include policy reforms, inclusive practices, and accessibility improvements. Critics warn that some measures may be poorly designed or ineffective, underscoring the need for evidence-based approaches. Research uses audits, surveys, and experiments to understand bias and evaluate interventions.