DISCRIMINATION

discrimination,n.1.  The  effect  of  a  law  or  established  practice  that  confers  privileges  on  a

certain  class  or  that  denies  privileges  to  a  certain  class  because  of  race,  age,  sex,  nationality,

religion,  or  handicap.  •  Federal  law,  including  Title  VII  of  the  Civil  Rights  Act,  prohibits

employment  discrimination  based  on  any  one  of  those  characteristics.  Other  federal  statutes,

supplemented  by  court  decisions,  prohibit  discrimination  in  voting  rights,  housing,  credit

extension, public education, and access to public facilities. State laws provide further protections

against  discrimination.  [Cases:  Civil  Rights    1001–1263.  C.J.S.  Civil  Rights  §§  2–37,  39–67,

85–86, 88, 102–104, 107, 122, 144, 219–221.] 2. Differential treatment; esp., a failure to treat all

persons equally when no reasonable distinction can be found between those favored and those not

favored. [Cases: Civil Rights    1033, 1138.C.J.S. Civil Rights §§ 18, 20, 23–24, 34, 39–40.]

“The dictionary sense of ‘discrimination’ is neutral while the current political use of the term

is frequently non-neutral, pejorative. With both a neutral and a non-neutral use of the word having

currency,  the  opportunity  for  confusion  in  arguments  about  racial  discrimination  is  enormously

multiplied. For some, it may be enough that a practice is called discriminatory for them to judge it

wrong.  Others  may  be  mystified  that  the  first  group  condemns  the  practice  without  further argument  or  inquiry.  Many  may  be  led  to  the  false  sense  that  they  have  actually  made  a  moral

argument  by  showing  that  the  practice  discriminates  (distinguishes  in  favor  of  or  against).  The

temptation is to  move  from ‘X  distinguishes in favor  of  or against’ to ‘X discriminates’ to ‘X is

wrong’  without being  aware  of  the  equivocation  involved.”  Robert  K.  Fullinwider,  The  Reverse

Discrimination Controversy 11–12 (1980).

age  discrimination.Discrimination  based  on  age.  •  Federal  law  prohibits  discrimination  in

employment  against  people  who  are  age  40  or  older.  [Cases:  Civil  Rights    1014,  1199.  C.J.S.

Civil Rights §§ 2, 6–7, 9–10, 19, 21, 56–58.]

content-based discrimination.A state-imposed restriction on the content of speech, esp. when

the  speech  concerns  something  of  slight  social  value  and  is  vastly  outweighed  by  the  public

interest in  morality and  order. • Types of speech subject to content-based  discrimination include

obscenity, fighting words, and defamation. R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377, 383–84, 112

S.Ct. 2538, 2543 (1992).

gender discrimination.See sex discrimination.

invidious   discrimination   (in-vid-ee-<<schwa>>s).   Discrimination   that   is   offensive   or

objectionable, esp. because it involves prejudice or stereotyping.

racial discrimination.Discrimination based on race. [Cases: Civil Rights    1009, 1107. C.J.S.

Civil Rights §§ 2–5, 7–9, 11–13, 18, 22, 26–27, 30–31, 33–34, 37, 41–42, 44, 67.]

reverse  discrimination.Preferential  treatment  of  minorities,  usu.  through  affirmative-action

programs,  in  a  way  that  adversely  affects  members  of  a  majority  group.  See  AFFIRMATIVE

ACTION. [Cases: Civil Rights    1033(3), 1232. C.J.S. Civil Rights §§ 18, 20, 23–24, 64–65.]

sex  discrimination.Discrimination  based  on  gender,  esp.  against  women.  •  The  Supreme

Court has established an intermediate-scrutiny standard of review for gender-based classifications,

which  must  serve  an  important  governmental  interest  and  be  substantially  related  to  the

achievement of that objective. Craig v. Boren, 429 U.S. 190, 97 S.Ct. 451 (1976). — Also termed

gender  discrimination.  [Cases:  Civil  Rights    1011,  1164,  1236.  C.J.S.  Civil  Rights  §§  2,  6–7,

9–10, 19, 21, 35, 64–65, 88.]

viewpoint discrimination.Content-based discrimination in which the government targets not a

particular  subject,  but  instead  certain  views  that  speakers  might  express  on  the  subject;

discrimination based on the content of a communication. • If restrictions on the content of speech

are  reasonable and  not calculated  to  suppress a  particular  set of  views  or  ideas,  a  governmental

body  may  limit  speech  in  a  nonpublic  forum  to  expressions  that  serve  a  specific  purpose.  For

example, an agency holding a workshop to inform state employees of laws related to the agency’s

functions  may  reasonably  prohibit  the  expression  of  opinions  regarding  the  motives  of  the

legislators. But if speech favorable to the legislators’ intent is allowed and  opponents are denied

the  opportunity  to  respond,  the  restriction  would  constitute  viewpoint  discrimination.  —  Also

termed viewpoint-based discrimination. [Cases: Constitutional Law    90(3), 90.1(1).]

3.  The  effect  of  state  laws  that  favor  local  interests  over  out-of-state  interests.  •  Such  a

discriminatory state law may still be upheld if it is narrowly tailored to achieve an important state

interest. Cf. FAVORITISM. [Cases: Commerce    54.1. C.J.S. Commerce § 51.] — discriminate,vb.

— discriminatory,adj. [Blacks Law 8th]