The difference between equity and equality can be defined by the share of resources an individual is receiving in a particular situation.
In an equity-based system, each individual receives the amount or quality of resources he/she requires to accomplish a specific objective. In contrast, in an equality-based system, each individual receives the same amount/quality of resources regardless of his/her ability to reach the specified objective with what resources he/she already has.
Key Takeaways
- Equity refers to fairness and justice in distributing resources and opportunities to individuals or groups based on their needs and circumstances.
- Equality refers to treating all individuals or groups equally without discrimination or favoritism.
- Equity recognizes and addresses the inequalities and barriers in society, while equality focuses on treating everyone equally regardless of their circumstances.
Equity vs Equality
The difference between equity and equality is that equity means to give or be given as needed, whereas Equality means giving or being given as the other individual gets. In an equity system, equality means that all individuals have everything they need to achieve a particular goal. In an equality system, however, since everybody gets the same resources, some end up with things they don’t even need.
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Such a system may drive a society to ‘rich becoming richer and poor becoming poorer’ circumstances.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Equity | Equality |
|---|---|---|
| Do all individuals become able to achieve the same goal? | Yes | No |
| Needs assessment | Needs are fulfilled | Irrespective of needs |
| Rationale | Requires logical and lucid analysis of people’s current situation and their end goal | It does not require any understanding of people’s current situation or their end goal. |
| Affected by the state of people? | Yes, and counters accordingly | Not affected |
| Does everybody has to start at the same level? | No. Everyone gets what he/she requires to get to the destination | Yes. One may or may not get what they require to get to the destination |
| Treatment of people | Equity treats everyone differently and according to their needs | Equality treats everyone the same and does not account for their needs |
| Discrimination | Equity discriminates against people based on their differences of class or calibre to achieve equality. | Equality does not discriminate against people based on their differences of class or calibre, but that becomes a cause for inequality. |
| End result | Justice | Indiscrimination |
What is Equity?
Equity is impartiality. Equity-based systems are derived by needs assessment and work toward achieving justice and are suited for all situations involving a variety of classes, races or ages of people.
For example, in a classroom, the students who are weak in one subject are given extra lessons in that particular subject instead of all students being given the same or no students getting any extra class.
Although it seems only fair for all students to be given the same amount of attention, it does not ensure equal success.
What is Equality?
Equality is sameness. Equality-based systems are run on equal sharing and work toward achieving fairness and are suited for situations involving a limited number of people from the same class, race or age.
Equality does not take into account the needs of individuals.
Hence, for example, in an organization, all the individuals in the same job category and with the same set of responsibilities will be paid the same no matter how much money each of them needs.
It seems fair for all the workers to be paid based on their job responsibilities; however, it does not ensure that all of them will be able to afford the same lifestyle.
Does this mean that equality should not be the perimeter of success?
No, equality is necessary to create harmony between the people working towards the same goal; however, to reach that level, it is first required that all individuals start at the same level, and that is only achievable by equity.
It can, therefore, be said that both parameters are to be practised in parallel to one another to ensure a system that does not discriminate.
Main Differences Between Equity and Equality
- Equity is a proportional share of resources, whereas Equality is an equal share of resources.
- Equity implies equal chances of success, whereas Equality implies proportional chances of success.
- Equity brings people of all classes to the same level, whereas Equality ensures that the provision of resources is promiscuous of class differences.
- Equity is the means, and equality is the outcome.
- Equity is possible to achieve even if all participants do not start at the same level, whereas to achieve equality; everybody needs to be at the same level from the very beginning
- https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.so.09.080183.001245
- https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED231906
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00131880701717198
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
So equity is about investments and equality is in general social terms. I will remember the difference between equity and equality by equal+ity = society and eq+uity = share market.
Hi Piyush,
Can a government decide to distribute the equity of the country equally among its citizens?
Hi Donny,
This has not happened till yet in whole of the history. With the capitalism being more prevalent in the current times, I doubt that any country will take such a step.
When there is a struggle to acquire resources, then there is competition and hence new innovations are done.