What is discrimination?
In general terms, discrimination is any practice that makes distinctions between individuals or groups so as to disadvantage some and advantage others. The Act establishes certain areas of life in which discrimination is prohibited, as well as detailing the attributes on the basis of which discrimination is prohibited. To decide whether discrimination has occurred involves a comparison between how the person has been treated, and how another person without that “attribute” or with a different attribute is treated.
The basic dictionary definition of discrimination is: the act or ability of making or perceiving differences and distinctions. A showing of favoritism in treatment. However, the word has a different and more precise definition for the Nevada Equal Rights Commission. We use the definition as; different treatment given or received because of a persons race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, and or disability.
Discrimination is partiality or bias in the treatment of a person or group that is unfair or illegal. Not all discrimination is illegal. One can be subject to unfair treatment that is not illegal under University policy or state or federal law. An example would be being treated unfairly because someone doesnt like you or because of your political affiliations. Illegal discrimination is treating someone differently based on a protected class. A protected class is a group of people protected against discrimination by University policy or by State and Federal law. At the University of Utah there are nine protected classes: Color, Race, National Origin, Age, Religion, Disability, Veterans Status, Sex, or Sexual Orientation (University policy only).
Discrimination is the ability of a metal detector to tell the difference between different types or alloys of metals, helping you to decide what you choose to dig up and decreasing the odds of digging up trash. There are audio (speaker/headphone) types of discriminators and visual (meter, LCD) types.
Unlawful discrimination occurs when a person is harassed or treated arbitrarily or differently because of their membership in a “protected class.” A protected class is a group of people who share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination and harassment by federal, state, and/or local laws. Alexandria Code recognizes the following protected classes: • Race • Color • Gender (including sexual harassment) • Religion • Ancestry • National Origin • Marital Status • Familial Status (in cases of housing discrimination only) • Age • Sexual Orientation • Disability Status (actual, regarded as having, and/or record of having a disability)For information specific to a particular federally-protected class, refer to the “Discrimination by Type: Facts and Guidance” pages located at www.eeoc.gov. For a list of other resources relating to discrimination, click here. In the employment context, discrimination begins with an adverse employment action, which is something an employer does
