🧠 Understanding Discrimination: A Sociological Lens for the MCAT
Discrimination refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, particularly on the grounds of race, age, sex, gender identity, religion, or other characteristics. This form of social injustice not only undermines equality but also plays a central role in shaping societal structures and experiences.
In the context of the MCAT and social sciences, discrimination is closely tied to sociology and psychology. Understanding it is essential when interpreting health disparities, societal inequalities, and group behavior.
🧬 Types of Discrimination
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Discrimination | One person treating another unfairly due to personal bias | A landlord refusing to rent to a Muslim tenant |
| Institutional Discrimination | Organizational practices that result in unequal treatment | Discriminatory hiring policies |
| Structural Discrimination | Systemic inequalities embedded in laws and policies | Racial disparities in healthcare access |
🏥 Discrimination and Health Disparities
From a public health and medical ethics perspective, discrimination leads to unequal access to:
Healthcare services
Preventive measures
Life expectancy and chronic illness outcomes
For example, African American patients statistically receive less pain medication for the same conditions than White patients—a disparity often rooted in implicit bias.
📚 Key MCAT Takeaways
Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is an action.
Discrimination can be intentional or unintentional.
Understanding discrimination helps explain disparities in health outcomes across different populations.
It intersects with concepts like social stratification, intersectionality, and social inequality.
🔎 Sample MCAT-Style Question:
A hospital implements a policy requiring all patients to show proof of citizenship before receiving treatment. This policy disproportionately affects undocumented immigrants. What type of discrimination is this?
A. Individual
B. Structural
C. Interpersonal
D. Personal Bias
✅ Correct Answer: B. Structural — because it’s a policy affecting groups systematically.
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Title: What Is Discrimination? MCAT Sociology Concept Explained
Meta Description: Understand the meaning of discrimination for the MCAT, including types, health impacts, and how it shows up in real-world examples.
Keywords: Discrimination MCAT, MCAT sociology, institutional bias, health disparity, structural discrimination
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