Social equity

Social equity is concerned with justice and fairness of social policy based on the principle of substantive equality, equal outcomes for groups.^[1] Equity within a society is different from social equality because it takes into account institutional discrimination. Equity is distinct from equality of outcome because individual outcomes within a group can be different according to Karl Marx "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need".^[2] For example, person A may have no difficulty walking, person B may be able to walk but with some difficulty, whilst person C may be unable to walk at all. Equality would be providing each of those three people with the same opportunities or aids. Per our example, if persons A, B, and C receive a wheelchair, this is a form of equality. Equity, on the other hand, would look different from equality because it would instead cater to each individual's differing needs. For the same example, person A may not receive any aids, person B may receive a walking stick, whilst person C may receive an electric wheelchair. Since the 1960s, the concept of social equity has been used in a variety of institutional contexts, including education and public administration.

^ Alfonseca, Kiara (10 February 2023). "DEI: What does it mean and what is its purpose?". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
^ Karl Marx, 'Critique of the Gotha Program' in Karl Marx: Selected writings ed. David McLellan (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977): 564–70 [569].

[abcnews-1] Alfonseca, Kiara (10 February 2023). "DEI: What does it mean and what is its purpose?". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.

[2] Karl Marx, 'Critique of the Gotha Program' in Karl Marx: Selected writings ed. David McLellan (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977): 564–70 [569].

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