Social equity is concerned withjustice andfairness ofsocial policy based on the principle ofsubstantive equality.[1]Since the 1960s, the concept of social equity has been used in a variety of institutional contexts, includingeducation andpublic administration.
Social equity within asociety is different fromsocial equality based on formalequality of opportunity.[2] Providinghearing aids for thedeaf would be considered social equity as it furthers the ability of people to equally partake in society, whereas if they received no aid, they would be treated completely equally to others, but they would not have these opportunities.
Definitions of social equity differ, but they all emphasize justice and fairness. Equity includes the role of public administrators, who are tasked with ensuring thatsocial services are distributed fairly. This means considering historical and current inequalities among groups, as fairness is influenced by this social and historical context.[3]
Attention to social equity in the field ofpublic administration in the United States arose during the 1960s, amid growing national awareness ofcivil rights andracial inequality.[4]
The National Academy of Public Administration defines social equity as “The fair, just and equitable management of all institutions serving the public directly or by contract; the fair, just and equitable distribution of public services and implementation of public policy; and the commitment to promote fairness, justice, and equity in the formation of public policy.”[5]
In 1968,H. George Frederickson articulated "a theory of social equity" and put it forward as the 'third pillar' of public administration.[6] Frederickson was concerned that those in public administration were making the mistake of assuming that citizen A is the same as citizen B, ignoring social and economic conditions. His goal was for social equity to take on the same "status aseconomy andefficiency as values or principles to which public administration should adhere."[6]
Community policing is one approach towards social equity in policing.[7]
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Recent administration from former U.S. PresidentBarack Obama has shed light on the subject of social equity for members of theLGBTQ community. The Obama administration appointed more than 170 openly LGBTQ professionals to work full-time within theexecutive branch and directed theUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development to conduct “the first ever national study to determine the level of discrimination experienced by LGBTQ community in housing.”[8]
Within the realm of public administration,racial equality is an important factor. It deals with the idea of “biological equality” of all human races and “social equality for people of different races”. According to Jeffrey B. Ferguson his article “Freedom, Equality, Race,” the people of the United States believe that racial equality will prevail.[9]
Social equity regarding religion has legal protections in some jurisdictions. In the US, individuals, regardless ofreligious affiliation or practice are afforded. According to42 U.S.C. sect. 2000e(j) "Religion is defined as all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to responsibly accommodate to an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without unique hardship to the conduct of the employer's business."[10] This law was enacted to protect employees who are employed by bosses of another religion and allow them to observe their particularreligious practices and celebrations.
Military and conscription generally violate social equity, despite increasingsocial inclusion.[11][12][13] Women in Norway did not reach gender equity for conscription with women being only 33% of all conscripted as of 2020.[14] TheUnited States military casualties of war and mental health outcomes show racial and gender equity disparities,[15] in the period 1980-2022African Americans were over-represented and women were underrepresented in casualties.[16]
Educational equity, also known as equity in education, is a measure of equity in education.[17] Educational equity depends on two main factors. The first isdistributive justice, which implies that factors specific to one's personal conditions should not interfere with the potential of academic success. The second factor isinclusion, which refers to a comprehensive standard that applies to everyone in a certain education system. These two factors are closely related and depend on each other for aneducational system's success.[18] Education equity can include the study of excellence and equity.[19]
Health equity is social equity in health.[20] Disparities in health outcomes can be related to differences in access tosocial determinants of health, specifically from wealth, power and prestige.[21] Individuals who have consistently been deprived of these three determinants are significantly disadvantaged from health inequities, and face worse health outcomes than those who are able to access certain resources.[21][22][23] This is especially important in areas with increased diversity across social, ethnic, and racial groups, as underrepresentation in healthcare systems is a global issue.[24] In order to achieve health equity, resources must be allocated based on an individualneed-based principle.[21]
In 1968 a theory of social equity was developed and put forward as the "third pillar" for public administration, with the same status as economy and efficiency as values or principles to which public administration should adhere
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