Discrimination
Discrimination means distinction. Through distinction, people are divided into groups. The classification is based on characteristics, e.g. colour, gender or disability. Often this happens in order to distinguish oneself - to say, I am not like that, I am better.
These are prejudices. Through prejudice, people are assigned certain characteristics and they are valued.
This leads to discrimination, which is not fair because people are excluded through distinction and prejudice. Discrimination affects very many people. There is a ban on discrimination in Germany.
At the university, we work to make discrimination visible so that it is abolished. We expose discrimination, how it arises and persists, and fight against it. We create awareness of hidden processes of exclusion and demand that everyone can participate.
A privilege is an advantage that one simply gets. You get this advantage without having to do or being able to do anything for it.
If you don't have privileges, you have disadvantages.
Barriers are obstacles. Some are easier and some are harder to overcome.
Some can be seen and touched. Some are in the mind and in the feeling. Some block understanding and access to information. All prevent participation.
When you face many barriers, you have disadvantages.