Intentional discrimination in a hiring situation based on race, gender, religion, or national origin represents ______.

Disparate treatment occurs when an employer intentionally treats an applicant differently because of a protected characteristic, such as race, gender, religion, or national origin. Disparate impact, by contrast, refers to a seemingly neutral hiring practice that disproportionately harms a protected group, even without intentional discrimination. The correct choice is disparate treatment.

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