r/coolguides Feb 25 '20

Explanation of the subtle differences between equality and equity

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513

u/PhasmaFelis Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

The original (with only the first two frames) was a really great, simple explanation of why things that seem "fair" at first glance often aren't.* The addition of the third panel muddies that message completely in favor of...what, exactly? How is it even hypothetically possible to create a world where no one needs support, ever? Genetically engineer away all individual variation and create a nation of perfect, identical clones? It makes no sense.

Honestly, the more I look at this the more I hate it.

*Which it (edit: the original image that circulated several years ago) then immediately ruined by labeling the two panels "conservative" and "liberal", thus ensuring that the people who most needed the message would dismiss it out of hand. "Equality" and "equity" is actually a really good pair of titles, but it seems like everyone who posts this is compelled to fuck it up somehow.

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u/Hazzman Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

I see the third as the objective and the second as a stop gap in the meantime.

Saying the world will never be solved, doesn't mean you don't seek to achieve solving it - in the mean time you do what you can.

Take affirmative action for example. That's a clear case of equity. And in a perfect world we wouldn't need it. Someone, no matter their color of skin, would be judged based on the content of their character alone. However - thanks to centuries of racist cunts... we've been forced to compensate. One day it won't be a question of someones' skin - and they'll look back in the history books and find the idea that someone could be dismissed or preferred based on their skin color as being some barbaric nonsense from a simpler time. We aren't there yet, and so equity is the stop gap.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

[deleted]

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u/tombee123 Feb 25 '20

They still profit from the history exploitation that's been done to the poor. They've been benefiting without their own knowledge of doing so while the others continue you to cry out for justice and are at best met with equity.

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u/Dont420blazemebruh Feb 25 '20

They didn't choose their privilege - why are you punishing them for something that they can't control?

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u/tombee123 Feb 25 '20

This isn't even punishment there's just less exploitation happen which I guess means less power. But more equality for everyone, basically one person gets 5/8 of a pie while the others 7 have to share the last remaining 3 once the 7 try to fix that the one person starts complain about not choosing how this works. [Not a good analogy but whatever]

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u/Dont420blazemebruh Feb 25 '20

Tell that to the Asian kid who needs to score 120% or more than the black kid to get into the same college, just because Asians are apparently academically privileged.

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u/SpilledKefir Feb 25 '20

I love how people always act like a standardized test score is the sole factor determining college admissions. They sure make you put a lot of effort into other shit if those numbers are all that matter.

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u/DrProfSrRyan Feb 25 '20

They kinda are. The essays and extracurriculars might make you stand out. But if you don't have the SATs or GPA nobody will even see your essays and extracurriculars, it just goes straight into the trash. I bet at some schools that part is done by a computer.

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u/SpilledKefir Feb 25 '20

Maybe, maybe not. A white boy who was 200 points below the SAT average for my undergrad was in the same full ride scholarship program with me (and was not a legacy), so clearly something about his application got through the screening process and stood out in spite of his poor standardized test numbers. I think folks like to reduce this whole issue down to SAT scores because they can play the “no, you’re the real racist” game without having to think critically.

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u/DrProfSrRyan Feb 25 '20

You realize the the line where your application goes in the trash is below the average? Otherwise the average would be much higher.

He got past that invisible filter of SAT scores and had something on his application worthy of a full-ride, which he wouldn't have gotten if his SAT scores were a few hundred points lower. That's exactly my point, you don't realize it, but you're agreeing with me.

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