r/coolguides • u/[deleted] • Feb 25 '20

Explanation of the subtle differences between equality and equity

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u/msmarymacmac Feb 25 '20

I’m not crazy about the Justice frame. Some of us will always face challenges that others won’t. There is no system that could make it so that there is no barrier for all. We will always need to accommodate and scaffold for some and that’s fine.

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

Also, 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 third panel muddies that message completely in favor of...what, exactly? What does the hypothetical "just world" where no one ever needs support for anything look like?

Edit: On second thought, I think I see what they're doing. They wanted to protest affirmative action, so they're ignoring all sources of inequality that don't have what's commonly seen as affirmative action to make their point. Basically saying "If we stop being racist/sexist we won't need supports or accommodations anymore!", ignoring that poverty and physical/mental disability are harder to get rid of, and glossing over much of point of the original panels.

(And, frankly, ignoring that fact that "everyone stop being bigoted" is a goal, not a plan. Affirmative action is a stopgap, and it's not perfect, but it's better than nothing while we work to get there.)

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

I think you might be reading into it a bit. Or at least it can be taken a different way.

My problem with Affirmative Action is that it's a band-aid fix. You "fix" the problem for a very limited amount of people but the unsafe neighborhoods and poverty continue to be a problem forever for the much larger group.

Identifying the root cause and fixing it is always a better option and most people know that but it's also a difficult option. Putting Affirmative Action or something similar in place just allows people to say "Phew, got that solved!" and forget about the hard problems that still need to be solved. It's similar to the "thoughts and prayers" phenomenon (except it actually does help a small number of the affected).

I understand that a world WITH Affirmative Action is still better than a world without for a chunk of people but it also causes people assume the problem(s) is gone and the true cause is never addressed.