The 16 types of discrimination (and their causes)

Marginalization, repression and isolation: What factors explain the different forms of discrimination?

Discrimination consists of treating a person, group or institution in a different and detrimental manner.. This can be due to different reasons: race, sex, gender, ideas, place of origin, physical appearance, etc.

Discrimination is not something new, since mankind has always discriminated against other individuals because of their resources, origins or intelligence, and even entire peoples because of their different ideas regarding religion or politics.

In this article you will find relevant information about the different types of discrimination that exist.

Causes and consequences of discrimination

Discrimination occurs frequently in all societies. Although public opinion criticizes some forms of discrimination, such as racism or sexism, it hardly flinches in the face of discriminatory events that may occur on a daily basis, such as those suffered, for example, by obese people.

Discrimination can be an individual or collective phenomenon, and can have different causes. Some of them are:

• The economic or social situation can be the cause of discriminatory behavior, either because of a bad economic situation or because of an environment that favors this type of behavior.
• Ideology is one of the main causes of discriminatory behavior towards certain human groups.
• Fear can cause entire peoples to mobilize in a discriminatory way against some people.
• The submissive and imitative personality can cause some people to lack sufficient critical capacity and simply be swayed by others.
• The influence of the group group influence also causes many people to see discriminatory behavior as normal.
• Necessity or interest can lead to discriminatory behavior towards individuals or groups considered to be inferior.

Discrimination causes the person who is the victim to suffer a series of consequences.

At the psychological level, the person may experience anxiety, guilt, depression and feelings of loneliness.. But those discriminated against may also suffer other problems, such as difficulties in finding employment, dropping out of school and even death.

Types of discrimination

The causes can be varied and the consequences devastating. However, there are different types of discrimination that we need to understand, there are different types of discrimination that we need to understand. They are as follows.

1. Individual discrimination

Individual discrimination is discrimination by one individual against another individual.. In other words, it is when a person treats another person differently and negatively, without there being a differentiated contextual reason.

2. Institutional discrimination

This type of discrimination is characterized by the fact that it is public or private institutions that carry out some type of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or other on the basis of sex, race or other grounds. 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 who do not speak this language even though it is not a real requirement for the position to which they aspire.

3. Collective discrimination

A type of discrimination in which a group of people is given inferior treatment.. For example, discrimination against immigrants or the LGTBI collective.

4. Structural discrimination

Refers to discrimination arising from institutional policies that directly or indirectly favor some individuals and disadvantage others. that directly or indirectly favor some individuals and disadvantage others. Although institutional policies should be fair to all, this is not always the case.

5. Direct discrimination

The best-known and most visible form of discrimination, in which the person who suffers it is the person being discriminated against is treated unfairly by another person because of his or her characteristics.. It is easier to detect. For example, not accepting a woman in a job only because she is not a man, or marginalizing a homosexual person for having a different body language.

6. Indirect discrimination

This 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 the victim of discrimination is treated in a discriminatory and prejudicial manner.. For example, by not allowing the disabled access to watch a soccer match.

8. Positive discrimination

Positive discrimination is one in which a disadvantaged group is helped in order to achieve equity.. For example, with a different mark in a physical examination of a competitive examination. This type of discrimination is instrumental, that is to say, it pursues the objective of rectifying a historical grievance towards a given group. However, it is also a source of controversy and social debate.

9. Racism

Racism is one of the best known forms of discrimination.. It is also known as discrimination on the basis of 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 persons of another race with inferiority. For example, discrimination against people of color, Jews or gypsies.

10. Sexism

Also one of the best known forms of discrimination, in which the person who practices it undervalues people of the opposite sex. the person practicing it undervalues 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, since it refers to treating a woman differently (whether employee or job applicant) because of the possibility of having children. There is a law prohibiting this type of discriminatory conduct.

11. Religious discrimination

When an individual or group of individuals are treated unfairly and unfavorably because they do not practice or share religious ideas. because they do not practice or share the religious ideas of the society in which they live.

12. Age discrimination

Age is the reason for discrimination. It is usually carried out, above all, in work environments, where it is considered that the ideal age to work is from 25 to 45 years old. Older people may be left out of the labor market and not be interested in certain job offers. It is also called 'old ageism', although in certain contexts there is also discrimination against young people.

13. Discrimination based on disability or illness

People can also be treated unfairly because they suffer from a physical or mental disability or illness.or because they suffer from an illness. The consequences can be both in terms of personal treatment and access to jobs, among other disadvantages.

• More information on discrimination against people with functional diversity in this article.

14. Discrimination based on physical appearance

It is manifested when the person who receives the discrimination is not very graceful physically.. Either for not having attractive physical features or for suffering from obesity. It is known by the term 'aspectism'.

15. Transgender discrimination

Discrimination suffered by 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 are treated unfavorably because they do not share the political views of the society in which they live. because they do not share the political ideas of the society in which they live. This can result in anything from social marginalization to repression, as occurred during Franco's regime with thousands of Spanish communists and anarchists.