The 16 Types Of Discrimination (and Their Causes)
Discrimination consists of treating a person, group or institution in a different and harmful way This can be due to different reasons: race, sex, gender, ideas, place of origin, physical appearance, etc.
Discrimination is not something new, since humanity has always discriminated against other individuals due to their resources, origins or intelligence, and even entire peoples due to their different ideas regarding religion or politics.
In this you can find relevant information regarding the different types of discrimination that exist.
Discrimination occurs frequently in all societies. Although public opinion criticizes some forms of discrimination such as racism or machismo, it hardly bats an eye at discriminatory events that can occur on a daily basis, such as those suffered by obese people, for example.
Discrimination can be an individual or collective phenomenon, and can have different causes. Some of them are:
Discrimination causes the person who is a victim to suffer a series of consequences.
On a psychological level, the person may experience anxiety, guilt, depression and feelings of loneliness But those discriminated against can also suffer other problems, such as difficulties finding employment, dropping out of school and even death.
The causes can be varied and the consequences devastating. However, There are different types of discrimination that we must understand They are the following.
1. Individual discrimination
Individual discrimination is that which is carried out by one individual to another That is, it is when a person treats another person in a different and negative way, without there being a differentiated contextual reason.
2. Institutional discrimination
This type of discrimination is characterized because they are public or private institutions that carry out some type of discrimination based on sex, race or other reasons. Institutional discrimination is more complex than individual discrimination.
An example could be exclusive housing or a job offer that asks for the “Catalan” language, excluding those people who do not speak that language despite it not being a real requirement for the position to which one aspires.
3. Collective discrimination
A type of discrimination in which a group of people is treated inferiorly For example, discrimination against immigrants or the LGTBI community.
4. Structural discrimination
Refers to discrimination that arises from institutional policies that directly or indirectly favor some individuals and harm others. Although institutions’ policies should be fair to everyone, this is not always the case.
5. Direct discrimination
The best known and most visible form of discrimination, in which the person who suffers from it receives unfair treatment from another person due to his or her characteristics It is easier to detect. For example, not accepting a woman in a job just because she is not a man, or marginalizing a homosexual person for having a different body language.
It is a less visible form of discrimination that often goes unnoticed For example, the imposition of norms or rules that seem harmless but in practice are not.
7. Negative discrimination
The person who is a victim of discrimination is treated in a discriminatory and harmful manner For example, by not allowing the disabled to watch a football match.
8. Positive discrimination
Positive discrimination is that in which a disadvantaged group is helped to achieve equality For example, with a different grade in a physical examination of an opposition. This type of discrimination is instrumental, that is, it pursues the objective of correcting a historical grievance against a specific group. However, it is also a source of controversy and social debate.
9. Racism
Racism is one of the most well-known forms of discrimination It is also known as discrimination based on the race or ethnicity to which the person belongs, and occurs because an individual or several individuals belonging to one race treat another person or people of another race inferiorly. For example, discrimination against people of color, Jews or gypsies.
10. Sexism
Also another of the best-known forms of discrimination, in which the person who practices it underestimates people of the opposite sex There are some theories about it. You can learn about them in this article: “Sexist prejudice: explanatory theories.”
11. Maternity discrimination
Maternity discrimination usually arises in the work environment, as it refers to treating a woman differently (whether employed or job seeker) for the possibility of having children. There is a law that prohibits this type of discriminatory behavior.
When an individual or group of individuals receive unfair and unfavorable treatment for not practicing or sharing the religious ideas of the society in which he lives.
12. Age discrimination
Age is the reason for discrimination It is usually carried out, above all, in work environments, where the ideal age to work is considered to be between 25 and 45 years old. Older people may be left out of the labor market and may not be interested in certain job offers. It is also called ‘old age’, although discrimination against young people also occurs in certain contexts.
13. Discrimination due to disability or illness
People can also be treated unfairly because they have a physical or mental disability, or for suffering from an illness. The consequences can be both personal treatment and access to jobs, among other damages.
14. Discrimination based on physical appearance
It manifests itself when the person who receives discrimination is not very physically attractive Either because they do not have attractive physical features or because they are obese. It is known by the term ‘aspectism’.
15. Transgender discrimination
It is the discrimination suffered by those individuals who live a gender role that does not match their biological sex For example, transsexuals. This form of discrimination is also known as ‘transphobia’.
16. Discrimination based on political ideology
Occurs when an individual or group of individuals receives unfavorable treatment for not sharing political ideas with the society in which he lives. This can generate anything from social marginalization to repression, as happened during the Franco era with thousands of Spanish communists and anarchists.
