10 Characteristics of Discrimination

We explain what discrimination is, how it is classified and what it is based on. We also explain its characteristics and solutions.

What is Discrimination?

Discrimination is one of the ways in which people, groups or institutions act in relation to others, highlighting inequalities and placing other people as “different” and inferior in some respects.

Discrimination is a way of isolating a group, region or nation in order to establish differences in a peaceful manner towards other people. These differences are not established simply by finding them, but rather, the culture or society that discriminates does so to the detriment of the values, customs or ideology of those other cultures that it considers inferior.

In part, the feeling of discrimination arises from another concept that is rooted in all cultures since the creation of ancient civilizations: ethnocentrism. This concept implies a way of conceiving one’s own society or culture as superior to others and is intrinsically rooted in all humanity. However, from there it can lead to discrimination, a concept that implies not only devaluation but also the rejection and isolation of cultures which are considered different.

Ethnocentrism becomes discrimination when, The thought of superiority leads to discriminatory actions and opportunities are denied to discriminated groups.

See also: Stereotypes.

Characteristics of discrimination:

  1. Ethnocentrism and discrimination

As mentioned above Ethnocentrism is characteristic of all societiesThis concept refers to the need to consider the culture to which a person belongs as better than the rest. This is characteristic of the entire human species and of all times.

However, negative discrimination occurs when difference becomes intolerant, other cultures are looked down upon to the point of marginalizingdespise them and attack them both verbally and physically.

  1. Prejudice

From a psychological point of view, discrimination is a prejudice. This prejudice It is based on derogatory or pejorative behavior towards a group of people. However, prejudice is not based on a logical or certain foundation regarding the superiority of the person who discriminates, since there are no scientific or logical grounds to support discrimination.

  1. Types of discrimination

There are different types of discrimination:

  • Discrimination in the work area. That which occurs in the workplace.
  • Sexual discrimination. That which discriminates or exercises prejudice due to gender difference.
  • Social discrimination. It is a type of discrimination based on the country of origin, social customs, clothing, etc., that a person has as an acquired habit.
  • Racial discrimination. It is the type of discrimination that occurs due to a person’s physical appearance: skin color, eye color, height or physical build of a person.
  • Religious discrimination. It is the prejudice that arises from the lack of tolerance and marginalization towards a type of religious belief.
  • Ideological discrimination. That which is professed because a person has political and ideological beliefs different from others.

  1. Positive discrimination

This type of discrimination occurs when the person has the discernment to distinguish and differentiate inequalities between two or more people or things. Discrimination without a negative charge indicates that the person has the capacity to recognize that something is different from something else. The strict term of the word discrimination does not carry any racial, xenophobic or harmful connotations for anyone.

  1. Discrimination and the social context

While it is correct to indicate that Every society has exercised discrimination in one way or another. towards other people or groups, it is also important to say that this type of negatively charged discrimination (bordering on racism) has manifested itself more specifically after the second half of the 20th century.

  1. The racism

In many cases discrimination can lead to racism. To make a distinction, discrimination is the thought that other races or species are inferior in one or more aspects, while racism is act by depriving freedom or other benefits acquired for all humanity towards a particular society or group of individuals.

  1. Xenophobia

An act that goes beyond racism is called xenophobia. While they have lthe same root origin as discrimination and racismXenophobia implies, as the suffix indicates, a phobia towards something or someone. In the case of xenophobia, this implies a repulsion or rejection towards everything that does not belong to the culture to which the person belongs.

  1. Lack of foundation

Discrimination with a negative connotation (that which can become racism) lacks logic or foundation. That is to say A person believes that he considers himself superior to another for some reason but there is no scientific basis to support it, only prejudices do.

  1. Human rights

The day On November 4, 2000, Human Rights Protocol No. 12 was approved. where discrimination is prohibited. Although the Declaration of Human Rights (Article 14) had previously mentioned discrimination, on this occasion the prohibition of denying the enjoyment of the rights provided for by law is clarified.

This protocol entered into force on 1 April 2005.

More on: Human Rights.

  1. Solutions

We live in a world where every human being is unique and unrepeatable. As such, inequalities must be accepted in favor of these differences for cultural, social and moral enrichment (given that each culture and society has norms or customs that can benefit other societies).

Recognition of Difference not as a negative aspect of society but rather as a necessary difference characteristic of human beings, it is a concept that began to be thought of only in the middle of the 20th century until today, that is, in postmodernity.

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