Problem:
Anti-discrimination laws in the U.S. are based on the idea -- if you can do the work and have a good work history, you should get the job. Other characteristics such as skin color, gender, age and disability status should not be used in the hiring decision.
However, other characteristics unrelated to the job sometimes influence hiring decisions. Could you give examples? How might hiring based on non-job-related characteristics affect the organizations in which those people work? Do you have personal examples you might like to share?