Privileged Omissions: The Impact of Discriminatory Inaction

Abstract

Scholars commonly study bias and discrimination from the perspective of those discriminated against and, to some extent, the institutional practices that foster discrimination. The research on institutional oppression often excludes a concurrent area of discriminatory omissions. Research on privileged omissions as a discretionary bias provides a more holistic view of discretionary decisionmaking. The concept of discriminatory omissions has limited research, but this paper adds to scholarship in this critical area by providing analysis and calls upon public service practices to disrupt the unintended consequences of privileged omissions.