The unjust treatment of people based on race, age, sex, or religion is known as what?

Discrimination specifically refers to the unjust treatment of individuals based on particular characteristics such as race, age, sex, or religion. This concept implies not only a differentiation in treatment but also an inequality that negatively affects the targeted groups. It's an action or behavior that upholds existing inequalities and often stems from biases or prejudices held by individuals or institutions.

Bias can be understood as an inclination for or against a particular group or individual but does not inherently imply a direct action of unfair treatment. Prejudice, on the other hand, refers to preconceived opinions or feelings, often negative, about a group but does not encompass the actual action taken against them. Segregation refers to the enforced separation of different groups but is more about physical or social separation rather than the broader concept of unjust treatment. Therefore, discrimination is the most accurate term that encapsulates the systematic actions taken against individuals based on their inherent characteristics.