Final answer:
A) Minority, which refers to any group singled out for unequal treatment due to their characteristics and subject to discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
A) Minority. A minority group is defined by sociologist Louis Wirth as “any group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination.” This definition emphasizes that the key characteristic of a minority group is not merely being fewer in number, but rather having less power and being subjected to unequal treatment based on distinguishable physical or cultural traits. These traits could be race, ethnicity, religion, or any attributes that result in discrimination.
It's important to note that being a numerical minority is not essential to being a minority group; it is the lack of power and subordination that defines the group's status. For instance, during apartheid in South Africa, the Black majority population was considered a minority group due to the extensive discrimination and lack of power they faced under the ruling White minority.