Final answer:
Housing discrimination based on protected characteristics like race and gender is illegal, unethical, and unjust. Laws and policies are in place to prevent such discrimination and promote equal housing opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discrimination in the sale or rental of residential housing accommodations based on sex, marital status, color, religion, race, or national origin of the prospective tenant or buyer is illegal, unethical, and unjust. In the United States, various laws exist to prohibit discrimination in the housing market as it has a significant impact on the ability for individuals to find a home and can be connected to discrimination in other areas such as employment. Discriminatory practices can manifest in numerous ways, including but not limited to showing fewer homes to potential tenants or buyers based on their race or offering different loan terms based on their ethnicity.
Not only is housing discrimination a violation of the individual's rights, but it has broader social implications including reinforcing societal segregation, economic disparities, and perpetuating prejudice. Implemented laws and policies are designed to address such issues, in order to ensure equal housing opportunities for all and to work towards undoing the practices of housing segregation that have historically been entrenched in the fabric of society.