Equity: fairness or justice in the way people are treated
—As defined by Merriam-Webster in their definition for English language learners (which was far easier to understand and explain, even for this native speaker)
I almost cried yesterday.
I had just gotten onto campus and I immediately noticed a new flag hanging from a light pole. The flag with the theme for this year and this incoming class.
I nearly cried because never has a theme been more appropriate. Envisioning equity, in a time like this, speaks volumes. This morning, I sat in the state of the university program and heard my president say exactly the same—the theme makes a statement and has never been more timely.
I remember the first time I heard the work equity and really understood what it meant. I had heard it before, but hadn’t understood it in this way until a Mary Baldwin professor showed me this graphic:
I knew what equality was. I had heard the screams for equality my entire life, having grown up in a place where I know in my heart of hearts all people are not viewed as equal in the eyes of some. Equity was a new concept. To me, this is what the roar of a frustrated crowd should be crying for.
Not everyone needs the same. Equality is giving everyone the same. Equity is giving everyone the equipment to put them on an equal playing field. I have heard this term thrown around a lot in the education world. Equity is the reason why certain programs to help targeted populations exist. Not everyone has to be equal. Some people need more help to reach the same playing field as others, as shown in the photo.
I know the cartoon has been debated to death. Many versions have circulated the internet. While we could argue that justice could be shown by tearing down the fence or some other concept; life is full of fences. The fence is needed to establish the parameters of the playing field. There will be fences in your personal life. It doesn’t end, as sometimes there has to be barriers (except that wall someone wants to build, that’s a parameter we don’t need).
Equity is something that I strive for daily. I want to make things fair. Even when I realize life is not fair, I still want to make things as fair as I can. I spent my entire life with my mother on the hunt for equity in how she raised her children. She is the epitome of fairness. Constantly telling me things like “your sister got six new shirts, but they cost the same price as your four new shirts” in an attempt to explain to me how she was being fair by spending equal money on each of us. Being fair was instilled in me at an early age. Even though my mother didn’t use the word equity, I was learning and understanding the concept as I was happy she’d gotten both me and my sister a pile of new clothes.
Equity is far more complex than how many shirts each kid got for xx dollars, of course. Being fair and the theme relates to more than back to school clothes… the students are embracing this theme. They are going out and embodying what it means to make things fair in the world around them. They will change the world, slowly but surely. When I look into the eyes of the class of 2021, I see a little more fairness in the future.
