The “Equality vs. Equity” Distinction Doesn’t Explain What Matters for Social Justice
The nonprofit jargon of “equity” isn’t helping us tackle basic questions of how to live in a better, more equal society.
Protesters promoting the idea of “equity” during a demonstration in Auburn, Massachusetts, on July 24, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images)
Over the last decade or so, a confused idea that started in the nonprofit sector has gradually seeped into liberal discourse more generally. According to this idea, “equality” is bad or inadequate and what we need instead is something called “equity.”
Bernie Sanders was asked to explain the difference between them on Real Time this weekend and he didn’t really know what to say.
On @billmaher @CNN Tonight, @SenSanders did not know the difference between equality and equity, and yet the federal govt spending billions of dollars on equity training right now in every single federal agency. If a U.S. Sen doesn’t know the diff why are we spending that $? pic.twitter.com/KAaUXjBUZB
— Brian Doherty (@BDOH) March 4, 2023
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