National Investigators Exam (NIE) Practice Exam

What defines direct discrimination?

1. A person is treated less favorably due to a protected characteristic

2. Adverse treatment based on association with someone with a protected characteristic

3. Unfavorable treatment based on perceived characteristics

4. General policies that disadvantage individuals with protected characteristics

The correct answer is: A person is treated less favorably due to a protected characteristic

Direct discrimination is defined as treating an individual less favorably specifically because of a protected characteristic. This means that if a person faces unfavorable treatment strictly due to attributes such as race, gender, age, disability, or other characteristics protected under anti-discrimination laws, this is classified as direct discrimination. It emphasizes the explicit nature of the bias, where the discriminatory action is directly linked to the individual’s identity or status. The other options represent different scenarios of discrimination. Adverse treatment based on association with someone who has a protected characteristic pertains to discrimination by association, which is not the same as direct discrimination. Unfavorable treatment based on perceived characteristics refers to discrimination based on assumptions or perceptions, which can be a form of indirect discrimination. Lastly, general policies that disadvantage individuals with protected characteristics would be an example of indirect discrimination or systemic discrimination rather than direct discrimination. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in identifying and addressing different forms of discrimination in various contexts.