Understanding the Journey Towards Health Equity: Equality vs. Equity

In the realm of public health and social justice, "equity" and "equality" are often used interchangeably. However, they represent distinct concepts with significant implications for addressing health disparities. Achieving health equity has become a paramount goal in the United States, driven by a long history of health disparities that have disproportionately affected marginalized communities. To understand this journey towards health equity, it's crucial to distinguish between equity and equality, delve into the history of health disparities in the US, and acknowledge that achieving equality is a necessary stepping stone on this path.

A commonly used diagram to represent the difference between equity and equality...."2 Crates and a Fence" haha get it?

Equality vs Equity. What's Difference

Equality and equity may sound similar, but they hold different meanings, especially in the context of public health and social justice.

Equality:

Equality is the principle of treating everyone the same way. It looks like providing the same resources, opportunities, and support regardless of individual needs, circumstances, or disadvantages. While equality promotes “fairness”, it does not address existing disparities or inequities since it assumes that everyone starts from an equal footing.

Equity:

Equity seeks to address and rectify existing disparities by providing targeted and tailored assistance to those who need it most. Equity, recognizes that people have different needs and disadvantages; resources, opportunities and support are distributed in a way that accounts for these differences, aiming to level the playing field.

Achieving equality is an essential step to achieving Equity

While health equity is the ultimate goal, achieving equality is a crucial first step in the journey. Equality entails providing and sustaining equal access to resources, opportunities, and rights for all individuals; this is necessary before we can begin to address the root cause of the disparities that cause inequity. Consider the following example:

A policy was passed requiring that a full service grocery store be placed with in a 5 mile radius of every neighborhood development. This policy ensures that every neighborhood has a grocery store but this policy alone does not create equity. It does not take into account nutritional health education gaps, wage gaps, transportation etc.

To reach health equity, it is essential to acknowledge and address historical and systemic injustices that have created and perpetuated health disparities. This includes implementing policies and interventions that target marginalized communities and provide them with the extra support and resources needed to overcome existing disadvantages. By achieving equality in access to healthcare, education, housing, and other determinants of health, we can begin the process of leveling the playing field and then begin working toward health equity.

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