Discrimination is defined as:

Discrimination is accurately defined as the unjust treatment of individuals based on different categories, such as race, gender, age, religion, or disability. This definition highlights how discrimination involves unfairness and inequality, where individuals or groups are treated differently in a negative way due to their characteristics or identities.

Understanding this concept is essential in human services, as it underscores the importance of equal treatment and the need to address and dismantle biases that lead to such injustices. In contexts like employment, education, and social services, recognizing and combatting discrimination is crucial for promoting fairness and equality in society.

Other definitions may imply fairness or merit-based treatment, but those do not capture the essence of discrimination, which focuses specifically on the inequitable and negative treatment that arises from societal biases and prejudices.