Slight correction: it’s equity not equality.
Equality is everyone being treated the same way regardless of differences.
Equity is everyone being provided with the tools they need to succeed taking individual differences into account.
This is the goal, whether or not it succeeds depends on how it’s implemented.
Equality is everyone being treated the same way regardless of differences.
Generally, equality is just about equality of freedom or “power to –”. If someone needs support to achieve their goals (as long as this doesn’t involve “power over” others / oppression) then of course it is important that there be societal structures/networks in place to help them, or at least “meta-structures” that can facilitate the organisation of such supporting networks.
Of course, “freedom” is a poorly defined word in itself, but imo the “everyone treated the exact same” (or worse, “everyone should be the same”) interpretations are not in the spirit of “freedom” and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were constructed in bad faith (not to promote “equity” but to discredit “equality”).
But ultimately it’s just semantics, and if you like calling it equity that’s cool, it’s just good to keep in mind that people who still use “equality” can easily be referring to the exact same thing.
Yes they can be referring to the same thing, but the “E” in “DEI” stands for “equity”, not “equality”. I made no value judgments on either term, I just explained the difference.
