Final answer:
Disparate treatment is a type of discrimination evident when individuals are treated unequally based on characteristics like race or gender without legitimate business reason. Examples include a qualified female employee being passed over for promotion in favor of a male colleague, or a business losing customers due to discriminatory practices. Institutional discrimination, such as 'don't ask, don't tell' in the military, is systemic, contrasting with the individual nature of disparate treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is an example of disparate treatment? Disparate treatment is a form of discrimination that occurs when individuals are treated differently based on a prohibited factor, such as race or gender, in a way that is not justified by legitimate business concerns. For example, if there are two employees with similar qualifications and work records, and one is given a promotion solely because they are male while the other, a female, is not, despite having the same or even better qualifications, this constitutes disparate treatment. This type of discrimination can occur at any stage of employment, from hiring to termination.
Considering the economic theories of discrimination, market forces might motivate businesses to act less discriminatorily. For instance, if a local flower delivery business notices a substantial portion of its clientele is Black, continued discriminatory practices could lead to a loss of customers and profits. This acts as an incentive for the business to adopt less discriminatory behaviors to maintain and grow its customer base.
Institutional discrimination, like the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, differs from disparate treatment in that it involves systemic issues leading to the disenfranchisement of certain groups, rather than individual acts of discrimination. However, both forms of discrimination can have a significant impact on employment opportunities and societal equality.