Final answer:
The correct option is B. Overt disparate treatment.
Overt disparate treatment is the correct answer to the scenario where a lender openly prefers to lend to male over female business owners. This conduct explicitly discriminates based on gender and can contribute to economic disparities. Market pressure might encourage firms to behave less discriminatorily to attract and retain workers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lender's comment preferring to lend to male business owners over female business owners is an example of B. Overt disparate treatment.
This type of discrimination occurs when an individual openly bases their decisions on a person's protected characteristics, like gender, which directly violates principles of equality and fairness in lending practices. This explicit bias can lead to significant disparities in economic opportunities for women, contributing to broader issues such as the gender pay gap.
Market forces can sometimes provide an incentive for businesses to act less discriminatorily. For example, a discriminatory business might need to adjust its behavior to retain or attract employees if they can find better pay at less discriminatory firms, demonstrating how market pressure could encourage fairer practices.