Disparate Impact

Disparate impact refers to a situation where a policy or practice, while appearing neutral, unintentionally affects one group more negatively than others. This can happen in areas like employment, housing, or education, where rules might lead to fewer opportunities for certain racial, ethnic, or demographic groups without any discriminatory intent. For example, a hiring test that is challenging for a specific group may result in less diverse applicants, even though the test was designed to be fair. Disparate impact highlights the importance of examining outcomes to ensure fairness and equity in societal systems.