10 Types of Discrimination to Be Aware Of

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAge DiscriminationDisability DiscriminationSexual OrientationStatus as a ParentReligious DiscriminationNational OriginPregnancySexual HarassmentRace, Color, and SexReprisal / RetaliationCoping With Discrimination

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Age Discrimination

Disability Discrimination

Sexual Orientation

Status as a Parent

Religious Discrimination

National Origin

Pregnancy

Sexual Harassment

Race, Color, and Sex

Reprisal / Retaliation

Coping With Discrimination

Close

Discrimination is defined as prejudiced, unfair, or unequal treatment of people based on their personal characteristics such as race, religion, disability, age, nation of origin, or gender (gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy).

Discrimination is a reality that many people face in different areas of their life each and every day. In 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that there were more than 80,000 workplace discrimination complaints. Of these complaints, 30% were based on sex, 34% on race, and 22% on age.

This unfair and unequal treatment can impact people’s access to equitable education, employment, compensation, housing, and healthcare. Discrimination is considered a social determinant of health; it is part of a person’s social environment that can affect other factors, including housing, education, and employment, that affect health and well-being.

While there are laws in place that protect people from discrimination in employment and housing,prejudiceand unfair treatment still frequently occur. Knowing how to recognize discrimination and understanding your rights can help you decide how to handle it if you experience discriminatory treatment.

Protections Against DiscriminationLearning more about your rights can also help you better recognize discrimination and know how to respond when you encounter it. Some laws are in place that protect people from discrimination in areas such as housing and employment, including:The Civil Rights Act, theAge Discrimination in Employment Act, and theAmericans with Disabilities Act: Protect workers from discrimination based on age, disability, nationality, sex, color, race, pregnancy, and sexual orientation.The Fair Housing Act: Protects people from being discriminated against based on their parental status, religion, nationality, race, color, and disability when buying, renting, or financing housing.

Protections Against Discrimination

Learning more about your rights can also help you better recognize discrimination and know how to respond when you encounter it. Some laws are in place that protect people from discrimination in areas such as housing and employment, including:The Civil Rights Act, theAge Discrimination in Employment Act, and theAmericans with Disabilities Act: Protect workers from discrimination based on age, disability, nationality, sex, color, race, pregnancy, and sexual orientation.The Fair Housing Act: Protects people from being discriminated against based on their parental status, religion, nationality, race, color, and disability when buying, renting, or financing housing.

Learning more about your rights can also help you better recognize discrimination and know how to respond when you encounter it. Some laws are in place that protect people from discrimination in areas such as housing and employment, including:

Age discrimination, sometimes referred to asageism, involves being treated unfairly based on your age. For example, age discrimination may originate from the idea that older adults are less willing to accept change or learn new skills, which can lead to an unwillingness to train, hire and promote older workers.While it is often applied to discrimination against older adults, it can also involve bias against people of all ages.

Examples of ageism include being fired, not being hired, not getting promoted, not receiving equitable training, or not getting job assignments because of your age. This might involve being fired in favor of hiring a younger candidate or not being promoted because an employer believes you are too young.

How to Handle It

Disability discrimination involves unfair or biased treatment of individuals due to their disability. Title I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect against disability discrimination in employment, public accommodations, access to programs and services, and communications.

Disabilities that qualify for ADA protection include bipolar disorder, cancer, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, epilepsy, diabetes, and a host of other conditions. However, people may still be protected even if they don’t have a formal diagnosis if their condition limits one or more major life areas or activities.

Discrimination can be direct, such as not hiring someone because of a chronic illness, or indirect, such as having job requirements that exclude people with disabilities. It can also involve failing to make reasonable accommodations, harassment, and victimization.

If you have experienced disability discrimination, you canfile an ADA complaintwith the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Your complaint may be referred to the ADA Mediation Program or to a federal agency that will handle specific issues related to your complaint. In some cases, you may be contacted for further information, or the Department of Justice may open an investigation into your complaint.

What Are Your Rights at Work When You’re Depressed?

Sexual orientation discrimination refers to discriminatory treatment based on a person’s sexual orientation. This discrimination may involve the denial of rights and services related to employment and housing. It can also involve verbal or physical harassment and other displays of prejudice.

Examples of this type of discrimination include refusing to hire someone because they are gay or refusing to rent to someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. It can also involve harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity that creates a hostile work environment. An example of this would include repeatedly and intentionally using the wrong pronouns ordeadnaminga transgender employee.

How to Be an Ally to and Within the LGBTQIA+ Community

Sexual orientation is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which provides employment protections against discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It prohibits discrimination that affects any aspect of employment, including hiring, job assignments, pay, training, promotions, layoffs, and any other benefit or condition of employment.

If you have experienced workplace discrimination based on your sexual orientation or gender identity, you can contact the EEOC at 1-800-669-4000 to file a charge.

Mental Health Resources to Support the LGBTQIA+ Community

Discrimination can also occur based on a person’s status as a parent. Parental status refers to whether or not someone is a parent. It includes having children, but it also applies to not having children. For those who are parents, it includes biological parents, step-parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, custodian of a legal ward, or in loco parentitis.

In loco parentitisrefers to a responsible adult who acts in place of a parent, such as an adult who is caring for their grandchild, their partner’s child, or a relative’s child.

Examples of discrimination based on status as a parent might include:

An executive order prohibiting discrimination based on parental status in federal employment was signed in 2000.

If you have experienced such discrimination, keep a record of when the event occurred and notify the EEOC. You may then be asked to participate in dispute resolution with the employer or provide more information if the EEO opens a formal investigation.

Single Parenting Stress: How to Beat Burnout

Religious discrimination is treating someone differently or unfairly based on their religious beliefs and practices. This can involve unfavorable attitudes or behaviors directed at people who are part of major world religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, or Buddhism. It can also involve discrimination against people with other deeply held religious, moral, and ethical beliefs and those with a lack of religious belief.

Examples of religious discrimination can involve mocking someone’s religious practices, harassment that creates a hostile work environment, and segregating them from others due to their religion.

If you have experienced religious discrimination in the workplace, you canfile a charge onlinewith the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In the private sector, you must file a claim within 180 days of the incident. If you work for the federal government, you mustcontact an EEO counselorwithin 45 days.

Discrimination based on national origin involves prejudiced treatment due to a person’s place of birth, culture, ancestry, or linguistic characteristics.

Examples of this type of discrimination include denying someone employment because of their accent or harassing them because of their nationality. Teasing or offhand remarks would qualify as discrimination if they create a hostile work environment.

Pregnancy discrimination involves unfair treatment of pregnant people in the workplace. Examples can include:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 protects employees against discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth.

If you have experienced employment discrimination as a result of pregnancy or a pregnancy-related disability, you canfile a charge with the EEOC.

Quid pro quo harassment involves a person in a position of power offering employment rewards, such as promotions or raises, in exchange for sexual favors. A hostile work environment involves sexual harassment, making it difficult and uncomfortable for employees to perform.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also prohibits sexual discrimination, and you can file a charge with the EEOC office.

How to Heal From Sexual Harassment at Work

Discrimination can also occur based on a person’s race, color, or sex. The Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also prohibits such discrimination.

Examples can include:

If you have experienced discrimination due to your race, color, or sex, you can file a complaint with the EEOC office.

Employment laws also protect workers from discrimination for filing a complaint or participating in the equal employment opportunity process.Examples of reprisal and retaliation include:

The EEOC notes that retaliation is the most frequently reported form of discrimination in the federal sector.

If you have been subjected to retaliation or reprisal for filing a complaint, participating in the EEO process, or opposing discrimination in the workplace, you mustfile a chargewith the EEOC within 180 days if you are working in the private sector or contact an EEOC counselor if you are a federal employee.

What Happens After You File a ComplaintAfter filing a complaint of employment discrimination based on age, disability, sexual orientation, race, pregnancy, or another type of discrimination, the EEOC will investigate. They may offer mediation, which may result in your employer taking steps to correct the situation. Or you may opt to file a lawsuit for unlawful discrimination. In some cases, the EEOC may take legal action on your behalf.

What Happens After You File a Complaint

After filing a complaint of employment discrimination based on age, disability, sexual orientation, race, pregnancy, or another type of discrimination, the EEOC will investigate. They may offer mediation, which may result in your employer taking steps to correct the situation. Or you may opt to file a lawsuit for unlawful discrimination. In some cases, the EEOC may take legal action on your behalf.

Signs and Effects of Workplace Bullying

Research has found that discrimination can seriously affect a person’s health and well-being.Different forms of discrimination have been linked to higher suicide rates,worse heart health, and anincreased risk for hypertension.

Outside of federal, state, and local laws that prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s personal characteristics, there are other things steps you can take.

Explore Workplace Options

Learn more about the options for reporting and addressing discrimination in your workplace. This might include reporting the discrimination to human resources and having discussions with trusted supervisors.

Seek Support

Discrimination can harmself-esteem, particularly when people start to internalize the negative attitudes they encounter. Surrounding yourself with supportive people can help alleviate some of the detrimental effects of discrimination, validate your experiences, and remind you of your value.

You might also consider joining advocacy groups that help raise awareness of discrimination and support people who have experienced it. It can be a great way to talk to other people who have had similar experiences and connect with a supportive network that can offer advice and information.

Manage Stress Levels

Encountering discrimination is stressful and can trigger anger, sadness, and anxiety. Stress leads to a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral responses, including negative emotions and increased blood pressure.

Because stress has significant health implications, it is essential to find ways to manage these feelings when they happen. Experiment with differentstress management techniquesto determine what works best for you. Some that you might find helpful include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, exercise, aromatherapy, or guided imagery.

Talk to a Professional

Facing discrimination can also increase your risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.Talking to a mental health professional can also help you cope with the effects of discrimination.

You can use theAmerican Psychological Association (APA) Psychologist Locator toolto find licensed psychologists in your area who can help you cope with discrimination-related issues. You might also consider theInclusive Therapists Directoryto find BIPOC and LGBTQ+ mental health providers.

Additional Resources:The Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentADA.gov: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

Additional Resources:

The Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentADA.gov: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

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