What is the term for unfair treatment of individuals based on group membership?

• A. Racism
• B. Discrimination
• C. Bias
• D. Stereotype

Answer: (B)

Unfair treatment of individuals based on group membership is discrimination. It means acting in ways that disadvantage or exclude people because they belong to a certain group—such as race, gender, religion, or nationality—in areas like hiring, housing, or rights. Racism refers to the belief that one race is superior and often underlies discrimination, but the term asked for here focuses on the actual unfair treatment itself. Bias is a predisposition or attitude, which can lead to discrimination but isn’t by itself the act of unequal treatment. A stereotype is a generalized belief about a group, not the action of treating individuals unfairly.