What term describes negative treatment of a minority group embedded in the institutions of society?

• A. Prejudice
• B. Stereotype
• C. Racism
• D. Institutional discrimination

Answer: (D)

This question taps into how discrimination operates when it’s built into the structures of society rather than just in individual attitudes. Institutional discrimination refers to negative treatment of a minority group that is embedded in the policies, practices, and routines of social institutions—things like schools, housing, workplaces, and the criminal justice system. It’s created when rules or norms systematically disadvantage certain groups, even if the people applying them don’t have personal hostility. For example, redlining limiting where certain groups can buy homes, or laws and practices that lead to unequal funding for schools or harsher policing in specific communities, illustrate this idea. This focus on the functioning of institutions distinguishes it from prejudice (a biased attitude) or stereotypes (oversimplified beliefs). While racism can encompass systemic practices, the phrase specifically describing discrimination built into social institutions is institutional discrimination.