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This section may require copy editing. (December 2023) |
Social equity is concerned with justice and fairness of social policy based on the principle of substantive equality, equal outcomes for groups.[1] Social equity within a society is different from social equality based on formal equality of opportunity.[2] For example, person A may have no difficulty walking, person B may be able to walk but with some difficulty, whilst person C may be unable to walk at all. Equality would be providing each of those three people with the same opportunities or aids. Per our example, if persons A, B, and C receive a wheelchair, this is a form of equality. Equity, on the other hand, would look different from equality because it would instead cater to each individual's differing needs. For the same example, person A may not receive any aids, person B may receive a walking stick, whilst person C may receive an electric wheelchair. Since the 1960s, the concept of social equity has been used in a variety of institutional contexts, including education and public administration.