EQUALITY

 the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

"an organization aiming to promote racial equality"
synonyms: fairness, equal rights, equal opportunities, equity, egalitarianism

(1) Equality does not mean absolute equality

In common usage equality is taken to mean full equality of treatment and reward for all.
It is demanded as natural equality. It is said that all men are born natural and free. However,
despite a strong emotional appeal to our hearts, the notion of natural and absolute equality of all
cannot be fully accepted and realised. Men are neither equal in respect of their physical features
nor in respect of their mental abilities. Some are stronger others weaker and some are more
intelligent and capable than others.
Their capacities and abilities are different. As such equality of treatment and rewards
cannot be ensured. Rewards must depend upon the actual abilities and work of various people.
Hence equality does not mean absolute and total equality.
Equality really means equal opportunities for development. In fact, when we talk of
equality of all men we really mean general and fair equality and not absolute equality. We really
talk of a fair distribution of opportunities reward and not equal reward for all.
(2) Equality means absence of all unnatural and unjust inequalities.
In society there are present two types of inequalities:
1) Natural inequalities, and
(2) Man-made unnatural inequalities.
The former means natural differences among human beings. These have to be accepted
by all. The man-made inequalities are those which are there because of some social conditions
and discriminations. These are of the nature of socioeconomic inequalities resulting from the
operation of social system. The discriminations practiced and inequalities maintained in the
name of caste, color, creed, religion, sex, place of birth and the like are all unnatural man- made
inequalities. Equality means end of all such inequalities and discriminations.

TYPES OF EQUALITY
1. Natural Equality
Despite the fact that men differ in respect of their physical features, psychological traits,
mental abilities and capacities, all humans are to be treated as equal humans. All are to be
considered worthy of enjoying all human rights and freedoms.
2. Social Equality
It stands for equal rights and opportunities for development for all classes of people
without any discrimination.
Specifically, it stands for:
1. Absence of special privileges for any class or caste or religions group or an ethnic group;
2. Prohibition of discrimination against any one on the basis of caste, color, creed, religion,
sex and place of birth;
3. Free access to public places for all the people, i.e. no social segregation; and
4. Equality of opportunity for all people. It however accepts the concept of protective
discrimination in favor of all weaker sections of society.
A modern central theme of social equality is to end gender inequality, to ensure equal status
and opportunities to the women and to ensure equal rights of male and female children to live
and develop.
3. Civil Equality
It stands for the grant of equal rights and freedoms to all the people and social groups.
All the people are to be treated equal before Law.
4. Political Equality
It stands for equal opportunities for participation of all in the political process. This
involves the concept of grant of equal political rights for all the citizens with some uniform
qualifications for everyone.
5. Economic Equality
Economic equality does not mean equal treatment or equal reward or equal wages for
all. It stands for fair and adequate opportunities to all for work and for earning of their
livelihoods. It also means that primary needs of all should be met before the special needs of
few are satisfied. The gap between rich and poor should be minimum. There should be
equitable distribution of wealth and resources in the society.
6. Legal Equality
Legal Equality stands for equality before law, equal subjection of all to the same legal
code and equal opportunity for all to secure legal protection of their rights and freedom. There
should rule of law and laws must be equally binding foe all. In every society equality must be
ensured in all these forms.
Some non-government organizations that promote equality:
1. InterAction
Since 1992, InterAction, through its Commission on the Advancement of Women, has worked to
advance female empowerment and gender equality in the policy and practice of InterAction
members and other agencies.
2. Equality Now
Their mission is to achieve legal and systemic change that addresses violence and discrimination
against women and girls around the world.
3. ProMundo
Promundo is a global leader in promoting gender justice and preventing violence by engaging
men and boys in partnership with women and girls.
4. CARE
CARE’s commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality is based on decades of
expertise in dozens of countries and in every development sector. We see gender as a cross-
cutting issue that we address in every program to make an equal world free of poverty.
5. Centre for Health and Social Justice
CHSJ is a resource organisation on issues of men, masculinity and gender, health rights of
marginalized communities and reproductive and sexual health and rights.
6. White Ribbon
White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against
women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity.
7. The Gender and Development Network
GADN is a diverse, effective and inclusive membership network made up of leading UK-based
non-governmental organisations’ (NGO) staff, practitioners, consultants and academicians
working on gender, development and women’s rights issues.