Key Terms:

Perception is how people understand their environment.

Diversity refers to differences among people. The most common categories include age, gender,
ethnicity, and religion.

Ethnocentrism is the belief that your own country or culture is superior to others.

Stereotype is a simplified belief about a particular group of people.

Prejudice (From L. prcejudicium "prior judgment") is a preconceived assumption about groups

of people or members of groups. Prejudice is an attitude, not an action.

Discrimination is denying individuals access to equal opportunities on the base of prejudice.

Reverse discrimination is preferential treatment for a minority over a traditional majority group
(typically white and/or male).

Racism is discrimination based on race, usually directed toward those of other races.

Affirmative Action requires some organizations, such as the federal government, to seek out and
hire qualified minorities who have been traditionally underrepresented.

Sexism is discrimination based on gender, usually directed toward females.

The glass ceiling is a metaphor for an invisible barrier that purportedly keeps women and
minorities from reaching executive positions.

Title VII of Civil Rights Act (1964) is the primary anti-discrimination law.

Age discrimination is discrimination based on one's age.

Disability discrimination is discrimination based on disability or handicap.

Reasonable Accommodations is a requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act that

requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for disabled workers (e.g., a wheelchair
ramp).

Undue hardship according to the Americans with Disabilities Act is defined as a significant,
disproportional expense. Under religious discrimination, it is defined as extraordinary costs,
safety hazards, diminished efficiency, or an imposition on the rights of others.

Equal compensation is a category of discriminatory behavior that prevents wage discrimination

based on gender.

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Genetic information is a category of discriminatory behavior that prevents employers from
discriminating or harassing employees based on their genetic information. Moreover, they must
not acquire genetic information but for specific, authorized reasons.

National origin discrimination is based on ethnicity or national origin.

Accent discrimination is a subset of natural origin discrimination that states that employers may
not discriminate on the basis of accents unless it impairs job performance.

English fluency is a subset of natural origin discrimination that states that employers may not
discriminate on the basis of fluency unless it impairs job performance.

English-only rules are a subset of natural origin discrimination that states that employers may
not discriminate through the use of English-only rules unless "adopted for nondiscriminatory
reasons" such as "the safe or efficient operation of the employer's business."

Pregnancy discrimination is discrimination based on the state or potential state of pregnancy.

Racial discrimination is discrimination based on race, racially related charact~ristics , or

stereotypes.

Classification of employees (see segregation).

Segregation of Employees in racial discrimination law, employers may not physically isolate or
assign employees based on racial considerations.

Compensatory damages are damages that compensate for injury or economic loss.

Punitive damages are awarded to punish the employer and make him an example to others for
particularly malicious behavior.

Religious discrimination is discrimination based on religion, religious beliefs or religious

practice.

Religious expression in discrimination law requires that employees must be permitted to express
religious beliefs except where it would cause an undue hardship.

Retaliation is any action taken to harass, fire, or demote an employee who files a discrimination
charge.

Adverse Action in discrimination law (specifically law relating to retaliation), "An adverse
action is an action taken to try to keep someone from opposing a discriminatory practice" (e.g.,
threats, denied promotion, termination).

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Covered individual in discrimination law (specifically law relating to retaliation)" any persons
who have opposed discrimination practice or those closely associated to them are "covered
individuals. "

Protected activity in discrimination law (specifically law relating to retaliation), a protected

activity consists of opposition to unlawful discrimination or participation in discrimination
proceeding.

Sex-based discrimination is discrimination based on gender. It is unlawful to hire, fire, promote,

etc. based on gender. This includes decisions made based on gender stereotypes.

Sexual harassment is a broad term for any unwe1comed sexual advances.

Sexual orientation is defined by the American Psychological Association as, "an enduring
emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction toward others."

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