{"id":30209,"date":"2025-12-12T18:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T23:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/?p=30209"},"modified":"2025-12-18T09:38:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:38:58","slug":"equity-vs-equality-the-crucial-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/2025\/12\/equity-vs-equality-the-crucial-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Equity vs Equality: The Crucial Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

NSTEM has loudly and proudly abided by the I.D.E.A. values: Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Access. Just by glancing at our intern page<\/a><\/span>, you\u2019ll see that inclusivity and diversity are not only a part of our mission but a vital part of our organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But why didn\u2019t NSTEM choose \u201cequality\u201d instead of \u201cequity\u201d? Don\u2019t the two terms mean the same thing? No: though \u201cequity\u201d and \u201cequality\u201d are associated with one another, the two terms are not interchangeable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s delve into the differences between the two and highlight the reasons we chose \u201cequity\u201d for our \u201cE\u201d in I.D.E.A.<\/span><\/p>\n

Equality<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Image Credits<\/a><\/p>\n

Equality is the state of being equal<\/a><\/span>, and equal means that two subjects are the same in size, quantity, degree, or value<\/a><\/span>. For example, when trying to balance a scale, you need to have the same amount of weight on both ends. In doing so, you achieve equality. Of course, this is a rather simplified explanation because most definitions require context.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Social equality is the state of all individuals, and the groups they belong to, having equal rights, autonomy, status, and access to public services<\/a>.<\/span><\/a> In this context, the tangibility of the weight and the scale is gone. Now, you have to balance a proverbial scale of success. On one side, you have privileged groups, and on the other, you have underserved groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you help them achieve equality? This is where equity comes in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Equity<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEquity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.<\/a><\/span>\u201d In other words, equity is the action taken to assist groups that lack in privilege in the exact way they require them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To balance our aforementioned success scale, you need to stack resources and opportunities on the side of the underserved groups until the scale tilts to the center.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this point is the furthest the scale metaphor can take us. In reality, there are many different aspects of privilege. For example:<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n