Equity vs. Equality: What’s the Difference?
While the terms equity and equality may sound similar, the implementation of one
versus the other can lead to dramatically different outcomes for marginalized
people.
Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or
opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and
allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
Equality
Equity
2
In the illustration above, two individuals have unequal access to a system — in this
case, the tree that provides fruit. With equal support from evenly distributed tools,
their access to the fruit still remains unequal. The equitable solution, however,
allocates the exact resources that each person needs to access the fruit, leading to
positive outcomes for both individuals.
While the tree appears to be in a naturally occurring system, it’s critical to
remember that social systems aren’t naturally inequitable — they’ve been
intentionally designed to reward specific demographics for so long that the system’s
outcomes may appear unintentional but are actually rooted discriminatory practices
and beliefs.
“The route to achieving equity will not be accomplished through treating everyone
equally. It will be achieved by treating everyone justly according to their
circumstances.”
—Paula Dressel, Race Matters Institute
Equality and Equity are not synonyms.
The words equality and equity are often confused because, at a glance, they appear
to mean the same thing. They both have to do with the way people are treated, and
both are used in the fields of law, government, economics, and so on. Often, these
terms are used to describe actions, laws, or rules that are attempting to end or
oppose injustice or unfair treatment of people.
However, equality and equity as noted above are not synonyms, and the methods
used to achieve them are often very different.
What does equality mean?
The word equality is defined as “the state or quality of being equal; correspondence
in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.”
3
Equality is usually simple to understand: three buckets that all contain five apples
are in a state of equality. They all have exactly the same amount of the exact same
items.
Under the law, Americans have equality in the sense that nobody can be legally
denied their rights based on any personal quality.
The word equity is defined as “the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness;
impartiality” or “something that is fair and just.”
Equity is more complicated than equality.
The complication with equity is that people often disagree on what is “just” or “fair.”
These are subjective concepts and, as a result, laws and policies that attempt to
achieve equity are often challenged in court or are controversial.
The use of the word equity has increased due to concerns about social justice and a
desire for fairness for historically oppressed groups. In the law, minority groups may
have equal rights but are still treated unfairly.
Historically oppressed groups such as LGBTQ+ people, Black people, and Indigenous
peoples have not only fought for equality, but continue to fight for equity in society.
How do we use equality and equity?
The best way to show the difference between equality and equity is with an
example.
For example, if I gave a rich woman and a poor woman each $100 that would be an
example of equality since I gave both the same amount of money.
4
Alternatively, if I gave a rich woman $100 and a poor woman $200, then it could be
said I am trying to achieve equity by “fairly” giving the poor woman more help based
on her financial situation.
Ideally, we would be able to achieve both equality and equity when it comes to the
law and society, but this is usually very difficult.
However, knowing the difference between equality and equity, will give you a better
idea about what goal a person is trying to achieve and the proper word for it.
versus the other can lead to dramatically different outcomes for marginalized
people.
Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or
opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and
allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
Equality
Equity
2
In the illustration above, two individuals have unequal access to a system — in this
case, the tree that provides fruit. With equal support from evenly distributed tools,
their access to the fruit still remains unequal. The equitable solution, however,
allocates the exact resources that each person needs to access the fruit, leading to
positive outcomes for both individuals.
While the tree appears to be in a naturally occurring system, it’s critical to
remember that social systems aren’t naturally inequitable — they’ve been
intentionally designed to reward specific demographics for so long that the system’s
outcomes may appear unintentional but are actually rooted discriminatory practices
and beliefs.
“The route to achieving equity will not be accomplished through treating everyone
equally. It will be achieved by treating everyone justly according to their
circumstances.”
—Paula Dressel, Race Matters Institute
Equality and Equity are not synonyms.
The words equality and equity are often confused because, at a glance, they appear
to mean the same thing. They both have to do with the way people are treated, and
both are used in the fields of law, government, economics, and so on. Often, these
terms are used to describe actions, laws, or rules that are attempting to end or
oppose injustice or unfair treatment of people.
However, equality and equity as noted above are not synonyms, and the methods
used to achieve them are often very different.
What does equality mean?
The word equality is defined as “the state or quality of being equal; correspondence
in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.”
3
Equality is usually simple to understand: three buckets that all contain five apples
are in a state of equality. They all have exactly the same amount of the exact same
items.
Under the law, Americans have equality in the sense that nobody can be legally
denied their rights based on any personal quality.
The word equity is defined as “the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness;
impartiality” or “something that is fair and just.”
Equity is more complicated than equality.
The complication with equity is that people often disagree on what is “just” or “fair.”
These are subjective concepts and, as a result, laws and policies that attempt to
achieve equity are often challenged in court or are controversial.
The use of the word equity has increased due to concerns about social justice and a
desire for fairness for historically oppressed groups. In the law, minority groups may
have equal rights but are still treated unfairly.
Historically oppressed groups such as LGBTQ+ people, Black people, and Indigenous
peoples have not only fought for equality, but continue to fight for equity in society.
How do we use equality and equity?
The best way to show the difference between equality and equity is with an
example.
For example, if I gave a rich woman and a poor woman each $100 that would be an
example of equality since I gave both the same amount of money.
4
Alternatively, if I gave a rich woman $100 and a poor woman $200, then it could be
said I am trying to achieve equity by “fairly” giving the poor woman more help based
on her financial situation.
Ideally, we would be able to achieve both equality and equity when it comes to the
law and society, but this is usually very difficult.
However, knowing the difference between equality and equity, will give you a better
idea about what goal a person is trying to achieve and the proper word for it.
