Direct discrimination. This means treating someone less favourably than someone else because of a protected characteristic.Discrimination is unfair treatment of one particular person or group of people. Learn how to file a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Discussing discrimination can be hard enough for adults. Talking to kids about the subject can be especially daunting. To have discrimination in taste, or to have a discriminating eye (adjective form), is to have a very specific preference. Discriminating Among Meanings of Discrimination. Discrimination has senses with neutral, positive, and negative connotations. Throughout King's education, he experienced racial discrimination.