[close04]

Discrimination, just as the Latin word it derives from, is a process through which you distinguish between multiple groups or people. Just like to discern.

The way you choose to to the distinction might be unfair: you either put someone at a disadvantage, or give them an unfair advantage.

Most usage was focused on unfair disadvantage but it can be either really.

[fiiv]

But by giving someone an advantage you then immediately give a disadvantage to the ones not within the group you have chosen to advance. Even if perhaps your original intention was merely to do the opposite and help people.

[close04]

Not necessarily. Not all games are 0 sum games so it is possible to give one an unfair advantage without subtracting from another.

For example giving someone a free movie ticket doesn't mean that everybody else is penalized. They get to pay exactly what they were told and expected, and nothing changes their situation. But one person is subsidized, gets an advantage without it subtracting from the others. They all get to see the movie but one does so for free.

In a university admission exam giving one person an unfair advantage might mean that they get admitted instead of someone else. So someone has to lose for this person to win.