The difference between equity and equality

Equity: Fairness of Outcome

Equity recognizes that simply giving everyone the same thing (equality) will not create a level playing field because existing systemic disadvantages or individual circumstances create different starting points.

Core Principle: Providing resources proportional to need to ensure everyone has a fair chance at a successful outcome.

Example: Giving students ladders of different heights—providing a taller ladder to the shortest student and no ladder to the tallest—so that all students can reach the high shelf. The goal is a fair outcome where everyone can access the resource.

In simple terms: Equality is the final goal of equal opportunity, and Equity is the process—the specialized resources and support—required to get there, acknowledging that not everyone starts at the same line.

Sample Answer

Equality: Sameness of Resources

Equality focuses on uniformity. It means that every person or group receives the exact same set of tools, resources, or opportunities, regardless of their starting point or specific needs.

Core Principle: All individuals are treated identically.

Example: Giving every student in a classroom a ladder of the exact same height to reach a high shelf, even though some students are much taller or shorter than others. The outcome is not guaranteed to be successful for everyone.