Equity is more desirable and realistic than equality. Discuss?

[xJeremyx]

Updates

+1 y

onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/.../

[goaded]

I've had a quick look through the answers, and your link https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/equity-vs-equality/.

"Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome."

I think that people saying equity is bad are ignoring that there's currently no equality starting out. Your parents, pre-K, schools, etc. would have to all be equal. Nobody seems to be saying equality of outcome (equity) is good, and that's not unreasonable. Equality requires equity at a young age.

Personally, I'd like to see the top performers from any school to get extra credit to go on to further education. Excelling in a terrible school is at least as impressive as doing well in an excellent school.

[Dargil]

To me, equality is of opportunity. It is realistic. Equity is of outcome. It is unrealistic.

[xJeremyx]

Equality is characterised by equal chance/help regardless of specific needs, eg. Giving away limited scholarships to anyone who gets a certain grade and above, regardless of actual need for thr financial support.

Equity is giving enough to each individual such that they have the same outcome, yes. Such as giving scholarships only to needier students without regard to the actual amount of effort they put in.

I think there has to be a healthy mix of both. Eg. Prioritising needy students who perform well when giving out scholarships.

[Dargil]

We almost agree.
"Equity is giving enough to each individual such that they have the same outcome".
But you can't facilitate an outcome. No matter what favorable "affirmative action" you set up, it is not just that but their performance that will determine outcomes. And I resolutely oppose affirmative action because it discriminates against people that have had better performance and have better capabilities. Like giving urban Blacks scholarships and denying them to performing Asians and Indians.
. Such as giving scholarships only to needier students without regard to the actual amount of effort they put in. Equity is giving enough to each individual such that they have the same outcome, yes. Such as giving scholarships only to needier students without regard to the actual amount of effort they put in.

[xJeremyx]

As long as we can agree that either equality or equity alone is not exactly beneficial, I think thats good outcome for our discussion.

[Dargil]

I think we do.

[Agape93]

Horseshit.

[xJeremyx]

and why so?

[Agape93]

Raising the lazy or inept to the same status as someone who busted their ass to succeed, spits in the face of those who work hard and encourage ineptitude. Why work hard when you'll get what you want anyways? Why bother working hard to be a damn good surgeon, when you could still pass medical school when you haven't earned it?

[xJeremyx]

That is true. Thats is why I think the answer lies on a spectrum. Equality is desired and required in some aspects, Equity in others.

Eg. giving scholarships only to poor students that perform well enough to enter medical school. They did put in good effort, and in this case equity (extra assistance where needed) is required to help them reach their fullest potential. All students who fall short are not allowed in, thats the equality part.

Honestly, my question was kind of a trick question in that sense.

[VanillaSalt]

People arnt equal. I hate the word. I’ll treat you like a person but understand I do not feel the homeless man or the tramp on the corner are equal to me who works in a steel mill.


I don’t feel I’m equal to the man or woman that spend 10 years in school to become a doctor. If that’s their dream they have to work harder to reach it. I have great respect for these people more ambitious then me.


But there’s more options then demanding a scholarship for minorities. How’s about we lower the price all together? Jesus I might be onto something!

[jshm2]

Nothing much to discuss, as both are wrong. Its subjective and who gets to decide the parameters for "equity" or "equality" are problematic in democracies. For example during apartheid era USA and before woman's suffrage equity and equality were considered to be legally fulfilled. Even the Nazi's had their equity and equality rules.

Also, the link you provided fails to address many points. Such as the inability to talk equality or equity when you don't have a good enough system that can provide such opportunities to any and all in the first place. It's like giving everyone a room on a sinking ship.

[monkeynutts]

I guess one of the best analogies might be the difference between your average gym junkie and someone who specialises in calisthenics, the gym junkie might get the same amount of muscle hypertrophy, but they payed a hundred times more money to get the same result as the guy who uses his own weight to create resistance, to build muscle.

[exitseven]

no, Constitution says all men were created equal. Giving a certain group of people different treatment only breeds distrust.

[xJeremyx]

If all are created equal, why is there still so much inequality?

[exitseven]

because some people are more driven than others.

[Sargentcaptain]

Equity is the denial of human right, it is neither realistic nor desirable, less you're a communist mouth breather.

[MCheetah]

100% false. They used to just call that "Communism."

[Anonymous]

Bullshit. Equity is communist socialist bullshit which says everyone is the same at the finish line. Equality is everyone is the same at the start..

If you value equity over equality it shows stupidity at best.

[TroyDT]

Impossible to answer this better than @Agape93 already has.

[Guy13]

Garbage…that’s Communism.

[Guy13]

Robin Hood does not work if you keep stealing instead of Earning. Lazy and Evil approach to “righting a wrong”.

[xJeremyx]

Hmmm... Lets say, a government decided to have equal taxes for everyone regardless of their income, and economic status. Thats what I mean by equality, and I think thats kinda flawed...

My idea of equity in this case would be what most governments are doing, which is different tax ceilings for different economical/financial classes.

[joeldalton]

Equity is impossible and morally evil.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

If you’re sixteen, you’re ready for teen s*x.

[Anonymous]

Worm.