Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Social discrimination refers to the unfair treatment or prejudice against individuals or groups based on their perceived social characteristics, such as race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status.
A stereotype is a widely held belief or generalization about a particular group of people. For example, assuming that all Asians are good at math is a stereotype.
Prejudice refers to preconceived opinions or attitudes towards individuals or groups based on their membership in a particular social category. An example of prejudice is believing that all Muslims are terrorists.
Institutional Discrimination: Institutional discrimination occurs when discriminatory practices are embedded within the policies and practices of organizations or institutions, leading to unequal opportunities for certain groups. For instance, if a company only promotes employees from a specific racial group while neglecting others with equal qualifications, it exemplifies institutional discrimination.