What is discrimination based upon?

Discrimination is fundamentally rooted in prejudice, which involves preconceived judgments or opinions about individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or other attributes. When prejudice leads to the unfair treatment of people or groups, it manifests as discrimination. It is a social phenomenon where decisions or actions are influenced by bias rather than objective criteria.

In contrast, education level, economic status, and intelligence can be aspects that some may wrongly use as a basis for forming prejudiced views, but they themselves are not the essence of discrimination. Discrimination arises from the negative attitudes or beliefs (prejudices) held by individuals or society, leading to the differential treatment of individuals based on their perceived traits. Thus, identifying prejudice as the underlying factor of discrimination provides a clearer understanding of its nature and implications in social interactions and institutional practices.