Equality & Equity

Course: B.Ed.
Paper code: BED210
Paper Title: Gender School & Society
 Concept Of Equality
• Equality is described as a state, where everyone
is at the same level.
• Equality is when everyone is treated in the
same way, without giving any effect to their
need and requirements.
• In finer terms, it is a state of getting the same
quantity or value or status.
• It is a situation where each and every individual
is granted same rights and responsibilities,
irrespective of their individual differences.
 Concept Of Equality
• Equality is the lifeline of the democratic
society; that aims to prevent discrimination
and provides an equal opportunity to all.
• It can be racial equality, equality between rich
and poor, men and women, etc.
• The central idea of equality is that all the
individuals gets equal treatment in the society
and are not discriminated on the basis of race,
sex, caste, creed, nationality, disability, age,
religion and so forth.
 Concept Of Equity
• Equity is the virtue of being just, even-handed and
impartial.
• The term equity refers to the system of justice and
fairness, where there is an even-handed treatment of all
the people.
• Under this system, the individual needs and
requirements are taken into account and treated
accordingly.
• Equity demands fairness in every situation, i.e. whether
it is the distribution of benefits or burdens. Therefore
people are treated fairly but differently as their
circumstances are given weight.
 Concept Of Equity
• It seeks to provide all the individuals an
equal opportunity, to let them attain
their maximum potential.
• In this way, equity ensures that all the
individuals are provided the resources
they need to have access to the same
opportunities, as the general population.
Equity & Equality- A Comparison
 Equity & Equality- A Comparison
• The terms equity and equality are sometimes used
interchangeably, which can lead to confusion because
while these concepts are related, there are also
important distinctions between them.
• In the context of societal systems, equality and equity
refer to similar but slightly different concepts.
• Equality generally refers to equal opportunity and the
same levels of support for all segments of society.
• Equity goes a step further and refers offering varying
levels of support depending upon need to achieve
greater fairness of outcomes.
 Difference Between Equity and Equality
Equity Equality
Equality refers to equal
Equity refers to fairness, sharing and division, keeping
justice and impartiality everyone at the same level
Equity= Fairness and justice Equality= Sameness
Equity is need based Equality is not affected by the
approach need of the people or society
It justifies things on the basis It justifies things on the basis
of quality of quantity
It focuses on need and
requirement of an individual. It gives same thing to all the
Thus, known as need based people,need
irrespective of their
approach
 Equity Equality
Equity makes sure what is needed
and in which quantity to an Equality does not look at what is
individual needed for an individual
Equality is the outcome/end
Equity is the means/process result of the process
Equity is subjective. It differs from Equality is measurable. It does
situation to situation and from not vary and neither matter
person to person whoever looks at it
It identifies the differences and It is not concerned with the
tries to reduce the gap between differences or gap between two
the groups or more groups
Equality might give rise to
Equity is positive discrimination negative discrimination
People are treated fairly but People are treated equally but
differently may be unfairly
 Equity Equality

Here, people can get what Here, people will only get
they need what everyone else gets
Equity cannot be achieved Equality can be achieved
through equality through equity

It looks everyone differently Does not look everyone

differently
Proper analysis of the No such as analysis is needed
existing situation is needed
to practice equity is needed to practice equality

Equity can work even if Equality can only work if

people do not start from the everyone starts from the
same point same place
 Equity Equality
Equity is taking a rationale and Equality is mostly treating equally
logical decision irrespective of being rationale or not
Example: In a family, giving different
quantity of food to all the family Example: In a family, giving equal
member as per their age, level of quantity of food to all the family
physical activity and dietary members irrespective of their
requirement of each of them is requirement and need is equality
equity
Example: Same classes for all the
Example: Providing extra classes to
students OR extra classes for all the
the weak students
students irrespective of their grades
Example: When distributing a pair of
Example: When distributing a pair of
shoes to the football players, giving
shoes to the football players, giving
a pair of shoes to all the players
a right pair of shoes as per their feet
without any concern to their feet
size
size