Equality vs. Equity: The Path to True Inclusion

Let’s go back to the basics for a second. Equity and equality are clearly important topics that guide our ideological frameworks and help us construct methods of bettering our world, but what really are the differences between the two? 

Equality refers to the idea that people should be given access to the same rights, opportunities, and resources no matter their background or identification with a certain group. The concept of equality largely ignores inherent advantages or disadvantages that apply to some individuals and communities. On the other hand, equity implies that people should be treated differently to accommodate their unique needs and circumstances. It’s easiest to understand the concepts of equality and equity when they’re put in opposition to each other with examples prevalent in our society.

Let’s say a school decides to give every student a laptop with which they’ll complete their homework assignments and correspond with their teachers over email. On the surface, the distribution of these devices seems like a productive idea as it demonstrates efficiency and equality of opportunity. However, some students may lack internet access at home and will therefore be unable to do their work in the digital manner the school has now standardized. Giving out laptops to students can still be a beneficial practice, as long as the school administrators make sure to take unique circumstances into account. Maybe students who lack internet access in their houses are given more time during the school day to complete assignments, or provided with paper versions of the homework. These solutions, along with a number of others, would make the situation equitable, stressing equality of outcome over equality of opportunity. 

The stark contrasts between equity and equality show up in many systems and institutions, not just education. In 2021, the Annie E. Casey Foundation covered an equal-turned-equitable situation involving access to vaccinations in Miami, Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the vaccine was first made available to the general public, a community organization considered promoting vaccines by directing residents to their local CVS pharmacies. However, the organization quickly realized that there were no CVS pharmacies located in most predominantly Black and Latin neighborhoods, and transportation barriers would make it almost impossible for these communities to get vaccinated. The strategy was restructured to include mobile distribution of vaccines throughout areas with Black and Latino residents.

  While “equality in healthcare” sounds overwhelmingly positive, it’s really only “equity in healthcare” that addresses social injustices and provides support to a large proportion of Americans. As you can see, equity includes acknowledgement of the fact that giving everyone the same opportunities doesn’t always provide fair results. Equitable approaches to situations consider the specific needs of a person or group, and create solutions that respond to those needs. It’s important to take into account, however, that equity relies on the assumption that there are plenty of resources to go around. Depending on the level of funding received by the organization, it might not have been possible to distribute vaccines in neighborhoods without pharmacies. 

In short, while equality provides everyone with the same pair of shoes, equity gives each individual a shoe that fits. Both equity and equality are integral to social justice as a whole. The goal is to break down barriers to the rights and freedoms that everyone undoubtedly deserves—it’s just a question of how to approach this fight, and I hope this article made you think about what the best answer to that question could be.