What is the Difference between Equity and Equality?
During his Senate confirmation hearing on January 14, 2025, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, expressed his views on equity and equality. Hegseth argued that modern diversity and inclusion policies “divide” current troops and do not prioritize “meritocracy.” He emphasized that the military should focus on “lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness.” Hegseth’s comments were part of a broader discussion of his stance against what he called “woke” culture in the military.
In social justice, education, and public policy discussions, “equity” and “equality” are often used interchangeably. However, they represent distinct concepts crucial to understanding and effectively addressing systemic disparities.
Equality
Equality refers to equality, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. It is about ensuring that everyone has the same resources or opportunities. The principle of equality is rooted in the idea that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their circumstances. For example, in an educational context, equality would mean providing every student with the same textbooks, the same amount of instructional time, and the same level of teacher support.
While equality aims to promote fairness, it does not consider individuals’ varying needs and starting points. When individual needs and starting points are obscure, it can lead to situations where equal treatment does not result in equal outcomes. For instance, giving the same level of support to students from different socioeconomic backgrounds may not help those who need additional resources to overcome barriers.
Equity
Equity, however, involves recognizing that each person has different circumstances and allocating the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. It is about fairness and justice in the way people are treated. Equity acknowledges that some individuals or groups may require more support than others to achieve the same level of success.
Equity means providing additional resources to students who need them in education, such as extra tutoring for struggling students or more advanced materials for excelling students. Equity aims to level the playing field so everyone has a fair chance to succeed, regardless of their starting point.
Key Differences
The key difference between equity and equality lies in the approach to achieving fairness. Equality focuses on providing the same resources to everyone, while equity focuses on distributing resources based on individual needs. Equality is about uniformity, whereas equity is about fairness and justice.
Why It Matters
Understanding equity and equality is essential for creating policies and practices that effectively address disparities. While equality is a noble goal, it is often insufficient to address the root causes of inequality. By considering individual needs and circumstances, equity offers a more nuanced and practical approach to achieving true fairness and justice.
In conclusion, while both equity and equality aim to promote fairness, they do so in different ways. Equality provides the same resources to everyone, while equity allocates resources based on individual needs to ensure equal outcomes. Recognizing and addressing these differences is crucial for creating a more just and equitable society.
Harold Michael Harvey, JD, is the Living Now 2020 Bronze Medal winner for his memoir Freaknik Lawyer: A Memoir on the Craft of Resistance. He is the author of a book on Negro Leagues Baseball, The Duke of 18th & Vine: Bob Kendrick Pitches Negro Leagues Baseball. He writes feature stories for Black College Nines.com. Harvey is a member of the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, HBCU and PRO Sports Media Association, and the Legends Committee for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. Harvey is an engaging speaker. Contact Harvey at [email protected].