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Equity vs. Equality — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 16, 2024
Equity involves fair treatment and provision of resources according to individual needs, while equality means providing the same resources or opportunities to everyone, regardless of their specific circumstances.
Equity vs. Equality — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Equity and Equality

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Key Differences

Equity is centered around the principle of fairness and justice, taking into account the diverse needs, circumstances, and starting points of individuals or groups. It aims to provide tailored support and resources that level the playing field, allowing everyone the opportunity to achieve similar outcomes. Equality, on the other hand, focuses on treating everyone the same, offering identical support or resources to all, irrespective of their unique situations or challenges.
In educational settings, equity might involve providing additional tutoring to students who need extra help, acknowledging that each student has different learning needs and backgrounds. Equality in education would mean offering the same amount of tutoring time to all students, regardless of their individual academic standing or learning abilities.
Equity recognizes that historical and systemic inequalities may have placed certain individuals or groups at a disadvantage, and it seeks to address these imbalances through targeted measures. Equality, while promoting fairness, might not sufficiently address or rectify these entrenched disparities, as it operates on the premise that everyone starts from the same position.
In terms of policy-making, equity-driven approaches often require a more nuanced understanding of the population's needs and might lead to more complex but tailored interventions. Equality-based policies are simpler in concept, applying the same standards or provisions to everyone, but they may not effectively close gaps between different societal groups.
The debate between equity and equality is essential in discussions about social justice, education, healthcare, and employment. While equality aims for uniformity and fairness, equity pushes for justice and fairness by acknowledging and addressing unequal starting points and barriers.
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Comparison Chart

Principle

Fairness based on needs
Uniform treatment for all

Approach

Tailored support
Identical support

Focus

Addressing specific needs and barriers
Providing the same opportunities

Contexts

Education, healthcare, employment
Legal rights, voting rights

Goal

Achieve similar outcomes by addressing disparities
Treat everyone the same regardless of differences

Compare with Definitions

Equity

Provides resources according to individual needs.
Allocating more funding to schools in underprivileged areas to address educational disparities.

Equality

Applies the same standards or resources to everyone.
Equal funding for all schools, regardless of their location or the socioeconomic status of their students.

Equity

Recognizes historical and systemic imbalances.
Implementing affirmative action policies to support historically marginalized groups.

Equality

Often associated with equal rights under the law.
Equal voting rights ensure all citizens can vote regardless of gender, race, or wealth.

Equity

Adjusts based on changing needs and situations.
Modifying workplace policies to accommodate employees with disabilities.

Equality

Policies are easier to standardize and implement.
A flat tax rate applies the same percentage to all income levels.

Equity

Interventions are designed to meet specific circumstances.
Offering language translation services in healthcare to non-English speakers.

Equality

May not address deeper systemic issues.
Universal healthcare may not consider specific needs like rare diseases or cultural competencies.

Equity

Aims for equitable outcomes, not just equal inputs.
Customized job training programs for individuals with different skill levels.

Equality

Serves as a baseline for fairness and justice.
Gender equality initiatives promote equal treatment and opportunities for all genders.

Equity

The state or quality of being just and fair.

Equality

The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities
An organization aiming to promote racial equality

Equity

Something that is just and fair.

Equality

A symbolic expression of the fact that two quantities are equal; an equation.

Equity

Justice achieved not simply according to the strict letter of the law but in accordance with principles of substantial justice and the unique facts of the case.

Equality

The state or quality of being equal.

Equity

See court of equity.

Equality

(Mathematics) A statement, usually an equation, that one thing equals another.

Equity

An equitable right or claim
An analysis of the equities and inequities brought about by the current trade bill.

Equality

The fact of being equal.

Equity

Ownership interest in a corporation, property, or other holding, usually calculated as the value of the holding after subtracting any debt or liabilities.

Equality

(mathematics) The fact of being equal, of having the same value. en

Equity

Equities Shares of common stock or preferred stock.

Equality

The equal treatment of people irrespective of social or cultural differences.

Equity

The value of a brand's reputation.

Equality

The condition or quality of being equal; agreement in quantity or degree as compared; likeness in bulk, value, rank, properties, etc.; as, the equality of two bodies in length or thickness; an equality of rights.
A footing of equality with nobles.

Equity

Representing an ownership interest
An equity stake.

Equality

Sameness in state or continued course; evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of temper or constitution.

Equity

Of or relating to stocks
An equity mutual fund.

Equality

Evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of surface.

Equity

Subordinated to all other claims on income, earnings, or assets
The equity tranche.

Equality

Exact agreement between two expressions or magnitudes with respect to quantity; - denoted by the symbol =; thus, a = x signifies that a contains the same number and kind of units of measure that x does.

Equity

Fairness, impartiality, or justice as determined in light of "natural law" or "natural right".

Equality

The quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status

Equity

(legal) Various related senses originating with the Court of Chancery in late Medieval England

Equality

A state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced;
On a par with the best

Equity

(legal) The power of a court of law having extra-statutory discretion, to decide legal matters and to provide legal relief apart from, though not in violation of, the prevailing legal code; in some cases, a court "sitting in equity" may provide relief to a complainant should the code be found either inapplicable or insufficient to do so.

Equity

(legal) A right which accrues to a party in a transaction because of the nature of the transaction itself, and which is exercisable upon a change of circumstances or conditions; in other words, an equitable claim.

Equity

The body of law which was developed in the English Court of Chancery, which Court had extra-statutory discretion, and is now administered alongside the common law of Britain.

Equity

(finance) Various senses related to net value

Equity

Value of property minus liens or other encumbrances.
Home equity
I have a lot of equity in my house.

Equity

(business) Ownership, especially in terms of net monetary value of some business.

Equity

(accounting) Ownership interest in a company as determined by subtracting liabilities from assets.

Equity

(poker) A player's expected share of the pot.

Equity

(nonstandard) Equality

Equity

Equality of rights; natural justice or right; the giving, or desiring to give, to each man his due, according to reason, and the law of God to man; fairness in determination of conflicting claims; impartiality.
Christianity secures both the private interests of men and the public peace, enforcing all justice and equity.

Equity

An equitable claim; an equity of redemption; as, an equity to a settlement, or wife's equity, etc.
I consider the wife's equity to be too well settled to be shaken.

Equity

A system of jurisprudence, supplemental to law, properly so called, and complemental of it.
Equity had been gradually shaping itself into a refined science which no human faculties could master without long and intense application.

Equity

The difference between the market value of a property and the claims held against it

Equity

The ownership interest of shareholders in a corporation

Equity

Conformity with rules or standards;
The judge recognized the fairness of my claim

Common Curiosities

Is equity the same as equality?

No, equity involves fair treatment according to needs and circumstances, while equality means treating everyone the same.

Why is equity important?

Equity is crucial for addressing and rectifying historical and systemic inequalities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

How does equity apply in the workplace?

In the workplace, equity involves recognizing and accommodating diverse employee needs, such as flexible hours for parents or accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Does striving for equality ignore individual needs?

While equality aims for fairness, it might overlook individual circumstances and needs, potentially perpetuating disparities.

Can a society have both equity and equality?

Yes, a society can strive for equality in terms of rights and opportunities, while also implementing equitable measures to address specific needs.

Is equality more about opportunities or outcomes?

Equality is generally more about providing equal opportunities, while equity also considers the outcomes and aims to make them more fair and just.

How do policies promote equity?

Policies promote equity by considering the varied needs of different groups and implementing measures to address specific challenges and barriers.

How do education systems implement equity?

Education systems implement equity by providing additional resources and support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them achieve at similar levels as their peers.

Can equity be achieved without equality?

Equity and equality often go hand in hand, but focusing solely on equality without considering equity might not address deeper systemic issues.

How does equity affect social justice?

Equity is a cornerstone of social justice, as it seeks to ensure fair treatment, access, and opportunities for all, especially for those who have been marginalized or disadvantaged.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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