Equity
Most of us will have heard about equality. A closely correlated concept is equity. Equality is concerned with sameness, while equity is concerned with fairness. These concepts can be especially important for those of us belonging to marginalised identities. Everyone is unique and has different needs, but when the world isn’t built for you or always accessible to you, the needs you have are not necessarily inherently provided for the way they may be for most people. This is where equity comes in, because equity is what levels the playing field. Similarly, equity makes equality possible, because for those of us who are marginalised by differences considered ‘minority’ (aka we’re people for whom the world wasn’t built, nor is it always accessible, inclusive or safe), to be the same, we first need fairness before there can be the possibility of sameness. You can’t be the same on a sliding slope. We are all different, even from others who share the same marginalised identity/ies as us. This means that what equity in particular looks like for us, will be different too, sometimes also varying depending on the specific person and situation.
That sliding slope that necessitates equity can also mean the reality is that others without barriers seem to get even more of a step up, while those of us who need adjustments can barely reach. The reality isn’t fair. Justice would be there being no barriers for anybody (what a dream!) But, while we wait for that, equity to level the playing field seems like the next closest form of magic we can reach for and implement.
If you’d like to explore this topic more, we recommend the following resources as a starting point;