Equity vs. Equality

In the context of social systems such as education, politics, and government, the terms equity and equality have similar but slightly different meanings.

Equality refers to scenarios in which all segments of society have the same levels of opportunity and support. Equity extends the concept of equality to include providing varying levels of support based on individual need or ability.

Equality Definition and Examples

The dictionary defines equality as the state of being equal in rights, status, and opportunity. In the context of social policy, equality is the right of different groups of people—such as men and women or Blacks and whites—to enjoy the benefits of similar social status and receive the same treatment without the fear of discrimination.

The legal principle of social equality in the United States was confirmed in 1868 by the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides that “nor shall any State [...] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

A modern application of the Equal Protection Clause can be seen in the Supreme Court’s unanimous 1954 decision in the landmark case of Brown vs. Board of Education, which declared that separate schools for African American and white children were inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. The ruling led to the racial integration of America’s public schools and paved the way for the enactment of more sweeping social equality laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Equity Definition and Examples

Equity refers to the provision of varying levels of support—based on specific needs—to achieve greater fairness of treatment and outcomes. The National Academy of Public Administration defines equity as “The fair, just and equitable management of all institutions serving the public directly or by contract; the fair, just and equitable distribution of public services and implementation of public policy; and the commitment to promote fairness, justice, and equity in the formation of public policy.” In essence, equity can be defined as a means of achieving equality.

For example, the Help America Vote Act requires that people with disabilities be provided with access to polling places and voting systems equal to that of able-bodied people. Similarly, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that persons with disabilities have equal access to public facilities.

Recently, U.S. government policy has focused on social equity in the area of sexual orientation. For example, President Barack Obama appointed nearly 200 self-declared members of the LGBTQ Community to paid positions within the executive branch. In 2013, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development published the first-ever estimate of discrimination against same-sex couples in housing opportunities.

Equity in the area of gender-based discrimination in education is provided by Title IX of the federal Education Amendments Act of 1972, which states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Title IX applies to virtually every aspect of the educational experience from scholarships and athletics, to employment and discipline at approximately 16,500 local school districts, 7,000 postsecondary institutions, as well as charter schools, for-profit schools, libraries, and museums. In athletics, for example, Title IX requires that women and men be provided equitable opportunities to participate in sports.

Source:

Longley, R. (2020). Equity vs. Equality, What's the Difference. Thought Co. Equity vs. Equality: What Is the Difference? (thoughtco.com)