WHAT IS EQUALITY?

EQUALITY
NOUN

THE STATE OF BEING EQUAL, ESPECIALLY IN STATUS, RIGHTS, OR

OPPORTUNITIES.
 Equality is treating everyone the
same. Equality aims to promote fairness,
but it can only work if everyone starts
from the same place and needs the
same help.
Notice how each fan
has been given an
EQUAL boost, but 2 of
them still cannot see
the match. In this case,
treating everyone
exactly the same
actually isnt fair.
NOT EVERYONE STARTS AT THE SAME PLACE, AND NOT
EVERYONE HAS THE SAME NEEDS.

Since everyone is different and we embrace

these differences as unique, we must also
redefine our basic expectations
for fairness and success depending upon
those individual differences.
 A Real World Example
Some people will need a language translator when speaking to a government
agency and others will not. And it wouldnt be fair to just provide Spanish translators
just because it is the foreign language most people speak. A Spanish translator
would not allow a Dutch speaker the same access to opportunities.

That would be privilege.

 SO WHAT THE HECK IS PRIVILEGE?
PRIVILEGE is set of unearned benefits given to people who fit
into a specific social group. There are many types of privilege.
(We could do a whole separate assembly just on recognising
privilegeJus sayin.) Privilege is created when society makes
decisions that benefit enough people, but not all people.
 So realistically, when it
comes to fairness, we need
to think about the concept
of EQUITY!
 What is Equity?
Equity is giving
everyone what they
need to be successful.
Equity appears unfair,
but it actively moves
everyone closer to
success by leveling the
playing field.
Often those in more privileged positions complain that equity is not fair. But this
is a misunderstanding. Equity is not equal, but it is fair.
People do not control the environment into which they are born. If you are born in
a poor, high crime area or a disadvantaged cultural group then why should you
suffer worse in life than the person who was born into advantage (neither of you
have done anything to deserve either of them). This is NOT fair, and so
resources are distributed unevenly in order to achieve fair outcomes in life.
 Equity is the idea of being just, even-handed and impartial.
Equity recognizes differences, and attempts to counteract
unequal individual opportunities by ensuring that people have
what they need. This levels the playing field of life so that we
all have equal opportunities to succeed.