Discrimination and Social Inequality

This chapter addresses what defines discrimination as a special set of social practices. While discrimination is always perpetrated against specific social groups, the chapter attempts a general characterization of what is discrimination. It stresses four topics which are always important for understanding the dynamics of discrimination, whichever the target group might be. The four topics addressed are the following: human cognition, social classification, power asymmetries and practical context. The chapter finishes with some appointments on standard arguments advanced to publicly embarrass or prevent antidiscrimination practice and discourse.