Equity and Equality are two terms you may have heard used a lot recently. They are often used interchangeably but they have distinct meanings and implications. Equity refers to the idea of fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and opportunities whilst Equality refers to the idea of treating everybody the same. Whilst these two concepts are related, they do have significant differences.

Equality means treating everyone the same, regardless of their individual circumstances or needs. In this context, everyone is given the same resources, opportunities and access to services, without regard to their individual differences. Whilst this might seem like a fair approach, it doesn’t necessarily address the underlying inequalities that may exist between individuals or groups. For example, giving everybody the same resources or opportunities may not address the fact that some people have had more advantages and opportunities in their lives than others, due to factors such as race, gender, socio-economic status and disability.

Equity on the other hand, takes into account individual differences and seeks to provide each person with what they need to succeed. This means that resources and opportunities are distributed in a way that addresses the unique circumstances and needs of each individual group. In this context, fairness means recognising and addressing the underlying inequalities that exist, in order to level the playing field and provide everyone with an equal chance of success. For example, providing additional resources and support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds can help to address the achievement gap that exists between these students and their more privileged peers.

Another key difference is that Equity often requires an active intervention to address underlying inequalities, whereas Equality does not. This means that Equity may require targeted programmes and support services or other measures designed to address the underlying causes of inequality. In contrast, achieving equality may simply involve treating everyone the same, without taking any additional action to address underlying inequalities necessary to succeed.

In summary, Equity and Equality are two important concepts that have distinct meanings and implications. While Equality aims to treat everyone the same, Equity recognises that people have different needs and backgrounds and endeavours to provide everyone with the resources and support.