English

Noun

reverse discrimination ‎(uncountable)

1. (law, ethics, public policy) The policy or practice of discriminating against members of a designated group which has in the past unfairly received preferential treatment in social, legal, educational, or employment situations, with the intention of benefiting one or more other groups (such as racial, disabled, or gender groups) that have previously been discriminated against.
   • 1965, "Statutes: Sex & VII," Time, 9 July:

     In one instance, Title VII authorizes reverse discrimination. The act gives employers ranging from Minnesota wild-rice farmers to New Mexico electronics manufacturers the option of hiring only American Indians.

   • 2002, "Why Affirmative Action Does Little Harm to White Students," The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, no. 36, p. 21:

     Alan Bakke at the University of California At Davis Medical School, Karen Hopwood at the law school of the University of Texas, and Jennifer Gratz at the University of Michigan all have argued successfully in court that they were the victims of reverse discrimination because blacks were given preferential treatment in the admissions process at these schools.

Usage notes

• Depending on the jurisdiction, reverse discrimination may sometimes have a connotation of illegality.
• Reverse discrimination sometimes has the connotation of involving numerical quotas for designated groups in employment and education.

Translations

See also

• affirmative action (US usage only)
• positive discrimination