Discrimination is a feminine noun meaning distinction or differentiation. However, the most common sense of the term is to designate a prejudiced action in relation to a person or group of people.
Discrimination occurs when someone adopts a prejudiced attitude (based on preconceived ideas) towards someone, whether for reasons of race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, economic situation or any other aspect Social.
A discriminatory attitude results in the violation of article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948:
"everyone is equal before the law and is entitled, without any distinction, to the equal protection of the law. Everyone is entitled to equal protection against any discrimination that violates this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination."
The United Nations, among other diverse functions, is responsible for promoting various measures aimed at eradicating all types of discrimination.
Discrimination results in the segregation and social exclusion of discriminated individuals, who see themselves less represented and marginalized in society.
Some synonyms for discrimination are distinction, differentiation, segregation and specification.
Types of discrimination
Discrimination can occur in a number of ways. The most common are:
Racial discrimination
Racial discrimination is one of the most frequent forms of discrimination, and consists of the act of differentiating, excluding and restricting a person based on their race.
In most countries, racial discrimination is generally aimed at blacks, who see themselves in an unfavorable position in relation to majorities. In Brazil, for example, the inequality of opportunities between whites and blacks results in data such as:
- blacks are the majority of the prison population
- blacks are a minority in universities
- black people have fewer job opportunities
Criminal law establishes that not all racial discrimination consists of racism. Article 140 of the Penal Code uses the nomenclature “racial insult” for the conduct of insulting someone, offending their dignity and decorum, using elements referring to race and color.
Racism, in criminal terms, is provided for in Law No. 7,716/89 and consists of several discriminatory conduct aimed at a group or collectivity of individuals, that is, the offense goes beyond the individual and reaches their race entire.
See also the meaning of stereotype.
Discrimination by sexual orientation
Discrimination based on sexual orientation is called homophobia, and consists of negative differential treatment in relation to homosexuals, bisexuals and transgenders.
Gender Discrimination
Discrimination on the basis of gender is called sexism. Sexism, in turn, manifests itself through machismo (discriminatory behavior from men to women) and femism (discrimination from women to men).
While several strands of sociology question the existence of femism, machismo, in turn, is a frequent form of discrimination throughout the world, and results in data such as:
- high rates of violence against women
- women earning lower wages than men, even though they perform the same functions.
- fewer women in politics or in senior positions
Discrimination on grounds of nationality and culture
Discrimination on grounds of nationality and culture is called xenophobia, and consists of hostile treatment directed at foreigners, usually for historical, cultural or religious reasons.
In addition to the forms mentioned above, discrimination can be practiced for numerous other reasons such as appearance, economic status, beliefs, customs, etc.
Discrimination and prejudice
Although they are often used interchangeably, the terms discrimination and prejudice have different meanings.
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion about something or someone, based on ignorance or stereotypes. Thus, prejudice is not an action and cannot result, for example, in legal proceedings.
example of prejudice: an individual to believe that a young man on the street, because he is black, is a criminal.
Discrimination, in turn, is an action that always originates in prejudice. It consists of a treatment, often negative, in relation to a person or group of people, based on preconceived ideas. Thus, discrimination is a practiced prejudice and, therefore, it can be the target of legal measures.
example of discrimination: a security guard of an establishment prohibits the entry of a black person in the place.
See also the 5 most important moments in the fight against prejudice and racism
positive discrimination
Positive discrimination happens when a person, usually belonging to a minority, is discriminated against in a favorable way. This happens as a way to guarantee the principle of equality provided for in the Federal Constitution, reducing social imbalances that exist in certain areas.
According to the principle of equality, the unequal must be treated to the extent of their inequalities in order to obtain equal treatment and de facto equality for all.
Examples of positive discrimination are racial quotas for blacks and browns, quotas for indigenous people, quotas for the physically handicapped, etc. All these measures are specifically aimed at a portion of socially discriminated individuals, with the aim of giving them equal opportunities in relation to the majority.
Discrimination and Discrimination
The words discrimination and discrimination have similar forms of writing, but their meanings are quite different.
While the word discrimination means distinction, differentiation or classification, the term discrimination is synonymous with decriminalization, that is, the act of disqualifying or disregarding a attitude as a crime.
See too:
- Preconception
- Racial prejudice
- linguistic prejudice
- race and ethnicity
- Racism
- Racial slur and racism
- Xenophobia
- Homophobia