Previous height and weight requirements were believed to discriminate against ____?

• A. Women and minority candidates
• B. Older applicants
• C. People with disabilities
• D. Veterans

Answer: (A)

Disparate impact from neutral-sounding fitness standards is the main idea here. Height and weight requirements in policing have historically been seen as biased because, while they apply to everyone, they tend to exclude more women and people from minority groups due to average body size and composition differences. This means the policy can unintentionally screen out a disproportionate number of these candidates, which is why the belief is that it discriminates against women and minority applicants.

Older applicants, people with disabilities, and veterans can be affected by various screening criteria, but the strongest and most discussed association with height and weight rules is their impact on women and minority groups, not those other groups.