The term discrimination is defined in the text as:
A The theory that prejudice is embedded in our culture.
B Biased thought based on flawed assumptions about a group of people.
C An expression of dissatisfaction with the justice system.
D Prejudiced action against a group of people.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
D. Prejudiced action against a group of people.
Explanation:
Discrimination refers to the unfair or unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a particular group, such as race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. While prejudice involves biased attitudes or beliefs, discrimination involves actions that result from these biases. Essentially, prejudice is an attitude, while discrimination is the behavior that follows from it.
In more detail, prejudiced action refers to the actual behavior that reflects these negative attitudes. For example, if a person holds negative stereotypes about a particular racial group, discrimination would occur when they refuse to hire someone from that group, deny them services, or treat them unfairly in any other way due to their race or ethnicity. This behavior is rooted in prejudice but is observable in real-world actions, such as unequal treatment in employment, education, or housing.
Discrimination can occur in various forms, including overt actions (e.g., denying someone a job solely based on their race) and more subtle, covert forms (e.g., making assumptions about someone’s abilities based on stereotypes). It is often institutionalized, meaning that organizations or societal structures may perpetuate discriminatory practices even when individuals are not consciously engaging in prejudiced actions.
On the other hand, prejudice (option B) is typically an internalized, biased thought or attitude about a group, not necessarily leading to action. It may be based on stereotypes or incorrect assumptions, but it doesn’t directly result in actions like discrimination does.
The theory described in option A—the theory that prejudice is embedded in our culture—is a reflection of systemic racism or discrimination, which is related but not synonymous with the term “discrimination.”
In summary, discrimination is the tangible expression of prejudice through actions, which can harm individuals or groups by limiting their access to opportunities, rights, and social services based on their group membership.