Rouzzette

· 21 Nov 2021

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Equality or equity? Which one is better?

#Meaningfullydifferentdeeplyinterrelated !
For the first time, I heard the terminologies equality, and equity can tell that they are homophones. However, conceptually, the terms are very different in meaning, and their results are different. One should primarily note that the two keywords without equivocation and circumlocution of thought are very vital aspects when it comes to matters of leadership, power, liberation, sovereignty, freedom, and justice.

Before we can develop a prejudiced answer of which is better and why it is necessary first to distinguish the aspects. Equality means that everyone is given a perceived fair treatment or more straightforward treatment regardless of individual differences and shortcomings that they may have. In contrast, equity, on the other hand, means each individual is provided for based on their needs, shortcomings, and differences with other parties. Simpler, what they need to attain their goal.
The differences between equity and equality are so helpful in understanding the school of socialism as a spectrum in the field of social security, social justice, social inclusion, social equity, and racial justice. This concept is of inevitable importance around the globe today. Even to newer concepts like global warming, equality and equity are not selective options. Instead, they must understand where the need is most, focusing on achieving a sustainable goal.  

                                     Equity demystified

The term equity is the total of fairness and justice. The decision inequity is very logical and rationale. We can replace equity with another name that is a need-based approach. It means that you give people what they need. The focus here is to give more to those who need more and less accordingly. Equity on its own is a form of positive discrimination. The representation inequity is proportional by all means, whether class, race, level of education, political affiliation, gender, tribe, or economic status. The result here is to achieve a fair outcome.
In an equitable approach, people tend to be treated fairly but differently as per their needs. The focus on equity is on the social aspect, and it stresses social change, inclusion, social justice, and racial justice. It also means that still under an equitable approach, equity is subjective in nature. From person to person and from situation to situation, it differs. Then this translates to respect—both individual and respect in terms of diversity.
Once equity identifies the difference, it works to bridge or reduce it between groups, races, or a specific community of people with a mixture of affiliated and affluent. In the principle of equity, people do not start from the same point but need. You cannot practice equity without a proper analysis of the situation at hand.
                

                                   Examples of equity  
•    Gender equity: for instance, when one is distributing or serving food, giving more nutritious foods to lactating mothers and adolescent girls based on their needs.
•    Education equity can be implemented by planning for extra time for classes and remedial for marginalized students or in day schools compared to boarding schools.
•    Resource equity: allocating more funds by the government to the lowly infrastructure regions of a state, for instance, dry parts, parts with no road, and regions with no schools.
•    Workplace equity:  it refers to differences in salaries, stipends, allowances, and bonuses based on education and quality of work.

    
                             Equality demystified

Inequality is about keeping everyone in the same state. It simply means that the sharing is equal, the treatment is equal, the division and opportunities are equal. It means the focus is on sameness. The rationale is not an issue of concern here. Equality does not focus on specific individual needs and demands, instead of giving everyone the same thing. It means everyone gets what each one gets. For example if we are giving five mangoes to everyone, all the people get five mangoes regardless of age or hunger.

Hence, all people may be treated the same way, but fairness may lack. The goal of equality is not to focus on the sociology of racial discrimination, social justice, or any form of equitable approach; it instead creates barriers for these social schools.

Equality works in a way that everyone starts from the same place. There is no differentiated instruction for people of different dimensions when following the principle of equality. The practitioners of equality have one main focus, to equally distribute the available resources; hence they have no concern to look at anyone differently.

                                               Examples of equality
    Gender equality: Distributing the same quantity, quality, and type of food to all people, boys, girls, youths, breastfeeding mothers without considering their needs.
    Educational equality can happen when the teacher gives equal attention to all students irrespective of their grades or intelligence quotient.
    Resource equality is when the government disburses an equal amount of money to all regions without considering all other factors.
    Workplace equality refers to getting the same salary irrespective of education and quality of work.