What is the Difference Between Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin Discrimination?
Race, ethnicity, and national origin discrimination are often discussed together, and they can overlap with one another in various employment circumstances. At the same time, it is important to know that it is possible to experience race discrimination without or without ethnicity or national origin discrimination, and vice versa — national origin discrimination with or without race or ethnicity discrimination.
How do these types of discrimination differ from one another, and what forms do each tend to take in hiring or employment contexts? Our Florida employment discrimination attorneys can provide you with more information below, and we are here to speak with you today about your case if you experienced any form of unlawful discrimination as a job applicant or employee.
Understanding Prohibitions Against Discrimination
Discrimination on the basis of race and national origin are expressly prohibited under both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and under state law, under the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA). These laws do not expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, but discrimination on the basis of ethnicity is generally included under the definitions of race and national origin discrimination.
To file a claim in response to one of these forms of discrimination, you will likely be filing a claim related to race or national origin discrimination, based on the language of the law. In some cases, ethnicity-related discrimination may also include a claim related to discrimination on the basis of religion or genetic information.
What is Included in Definition of Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin?
Discrimination on the basis of race generally means, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), discrimination on the basis of “an immutable characteristic associated with race, such as skin color, hair texture, or certain facial features.” National origin discrimination refers to discrimination on the basis of a person’s “actual or perceived place of birth, ancestry, accent, or association with people of a certain nationality,” the EEOC says.
Where does ethnicity fit in? Discrimination on the basis of ethnicity generally fits into forms of discrimination on the basis of race or national origin, or other prohibited forms of discrimination under Title VII or the FCRA. According to the Pratt Institute, ethnicity can be understood as “cultural characteristics that define a person as being a member of a specific group and can include language, accent, religion, styles of dress, hairstyles, social customs, food, and dietary preferences or restrictions.”
Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Race and National Origin Discrimination Lawyer for Help Filing a Claim in Florida
Nobody should have to experience race or national origin discrimination in the workplace, or any other form of unlawful discrimination. As we discussed above, both race and national origin discrimination are prohibited under federal law by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and under state law by the Florida Civil Rights Act. If you have been subject to either form of discrimination, or if you are in a workplace where these forms of discrimination have created a hostile work environment, you should reach out to one of the experienced Palm Beach Gardens race and national origin discrimination attorneys at Sconzo Law Office about filing a claim. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help you.
Source:
eeoc.gov/statutes/title-vii-civil-rights-act-1964