Legal Definitions - invidious discrimination

invidious discrimination

Treating a group of people unfairly and in a way that is harmful, hostile, or malicious.

• A company refuses to hire someone because of their race or gender.
• A landlord charges higher rent to tenants of a certain ethnicity.
• A teacher gives lower grades to students who are not from the same social class as them.

These examples illustrate invidious discrimination because they involve treating a group of people unfairly and in a way that is harmful or hostile. In each case, the person or group is being discriminated against based on a characteristic that is beyond their control, such as their race, gender, or social class. This type of discrimination is not only unfair, but it can also have serious consequences for the individuals and groups who are targeted.