Equity
What do we mean by equity?
Equity is the fair distribution of opportunities, power, and resources to meet the needs of all people, regardless of age, ability, gender, income, education level, culture, or background. This means providing support based on an individual’s level of need, instead of providing the same amount of support to everyone.
Equity considers the historical, current, and future barriers that negatively impact an individual’s opportunity to participate and prosper as a member of their community. It may be easier to understand equity when it is contrasted with equality: while equality suggests that we treat everyone the same, equity suggests that we identify populations most affected by social, economic, and political discrimination and provide them with a higher level of support so that they can fully participate in their community.
Graphic was found, uncredited, at What Fairness Really Means
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In practice, this requires that civic engagement processes are designed and delivered in an equitable manner to ensure that resulting benefits are accessible to the widest range of community members for generations to come.
Historically, government policy has contributed to and perpetuated inequity. Laws, bylaws, zoning requirements, and land-use decisions have excluded specific groups from participating in economic, political, and social systems. They have segregated and displaced Indigenous communities, racialized groups, and individuals experiencing homeless and/or poverty. However, the same laws and policies that have created these conditions can also be used to improve them for all community members.
Explicit and actionable statements of equity can support the planning and development of healthy and equitable communities. These statements can be guided by the following questions:
- Who will benefit?
- Who will be excluded?
- What contributes to or creates the exclusion?
- What promotes inclusion?
“Equality is giving everyone the same pair of shoes.
Equity is giving everyone a pair of shoes that fits.”
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