What You Need to Know About Discrimination

What is the Definition of Discrimination?

Discrimination is defined as the overarching act of inequity, intolerance, or favoritism with regard to specific characteristics and traits considered to be out of the control of those in possession of them. Discrimination can occur in virtually every social setting in which fundamental differences exist between individuals or groups.

Discrimination Laws

Although the Declaration of the United States expressed the famous tract that stated that ‘All men are created equal’, Discrimination of many forms existed then. Many Civil Rights lobbyists argue that Discrimination is currently present in modern society.

With regard to Discrimination, a variety of legislation was instituted in order to combat unlawful bigotry, prejudice, and Discrimination:

(1876) The Jim Crow Laws were instituted following the end of the Civil War. They granted equal rights to all minorities in lieu of their mandated separation from the general Caucasian population.

(1964) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished segregation in the form of the preexisting Jim Crow Laws that had been in effect prior to the turn of the 20th century.

Types of Discrimination

In addition to racism, a variety of additional types of Discrimination exist. However, legislation protecting individuals from these types of Discriminatory acts oftentimes exist in tandem:

Age Discrimination: This is a type of Discrimination in which individuals are treated with illegal and unlawful bias as a result of their age.

Gender Discrimination: Discrimination in which individuals are treated with illegal and unlawful bias as a result of their gender.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination: Discrimination in which individuals are treated with illegal and unlawful bias as a result of their sexual orientation.

Racial Discrimination: Discrimination in which individuals are treated with illegal and unlawful bias as a result of their race. This can also be defined as Racism.

NEXT: Fast Overview On Segregation