Institutional Discrimination

Institutional discrimination refers to policies, practices, or procedures within organizations or institutions that unintentionally or deliberately result in unfair treatment of certain groups. Unlike individual bias, it is embedded in the way institutions operate, often leading to disparities in access, opportunities, or outcomes. Examples include biased hiring practices, unequal access to education, or housing policies that disproportionately disadvantage specific communities. Recognizing institutional discrimination helps to understand systemic barriers that contribute to inequality and highlights the need for structural change to promote fairness and inclusivity.