Lecture on Discrimination

Definition of Discrimination

• Differential treatment and harmful actions against minorities.
• Key element: actions.
• Can be based on various factors like race, age, and religion.

Levels of Discrimination

• Individual Level

  • Example: A science professor refusing to admit women into his class due to gender bias.
  • Involves personal actions against specific groups.

• Institutional Level

  • Occurs within organizations (e.g., governments, banks, schools).
  • Example: Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
    • Landmark case against "separate but equal" doctrine in schools.
    • Highlighted institutional discrimination through unequal educational opportunities.

Types of Institutional Discrimination

• Intentional Discrimination

  • Direct actions taken by institutions to discriminate.

• Unintentional Discrimination

  • Side-Effect Discrimination

    • One institution's actions inadvertently affect another.
    • Example: Unjust criminal records affecting job applications.
    • No intention to discriminate by employers, but results in discrimination due to prior bias in the justice system.

  • Past-in-Present Discrimination

    • Historical discrimination affecting current situations.
    • Example: Post-Brown v. Board of Education, African-American students still facing hostility and discrimination in integrated schools.
    • Reflects past attitudes impacting the present environment.