Definition:
Institutional bias is the systematic favouring or disadvantaging of certain groups through the rules, practices, assumptions, or cultures of organisations and systems, regardless of individual intent.
Usage Context:
Seen in education, healthcare, welfare systems, policing, employment, finance, platform governance, and public administration.
Critical Note:
Institutional bias is often denied because it does not rely on explicit prejudice. By embedding unequal outcomes into “neutral” procedures, systems can perpetuate discrimination while maintaining a self-image of fairness and objectivity.
Related Terms:
Administrative Violence, Quiet Assumptions, Power Imbalance, Classism, Accountability Deficit