LexBrew
Usage Entry 1178 / 1350 60-second read

Discrimination vs. Prejudice

Acting on bias versus holding bias.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

He showed discrimination by not hiring based on race — but never did anything.

✓ Correct

He showed prejudice by not hiring based on race — discrimination is the action, prejudice is the belief.

The ruleii

PREJUDICE = belief. DISCRIMINATION = act.

PREJUDICE is the attitude — pre-judging a group negatively. DISCRIMINATION is behaviour — treating people unequally because of group membership. Prejudice without discrimination is private bias; discrimination requires action.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Prejudice thinks. Discrimination acts.

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