In my first blog I said I would invite you to look at some of the words that we use because they affect how we think.
I am now going to examine the word “Equality”. I don’t think that we should revere it quite as much as we do. We should use the word “Equity/Fair play” more often.
This is how I introduce the subject in the Prologue to my play.
The Prologue
‘Equality’ – who really does want Equality? Only those painfully less equal or those who do not always practice what they preach. Not an argument for not wanting a fairer society, a fairer world and equality of opportunity. But ‘Equality’? Is that the right word? Is it the right word in education? Is it the right word in health? Wouldn’t the word ‘Equity’ be a far more realistic and an altogether better mantra? Deep down in Britain fairness and fair play are the words that really resonate, and make the country a good place to live in.
You may think that Equality and Equity are really the same thing. Here is a short story I came across to show you that they are different:
Two friends, let’s call them John and Harry, are on a day’s walk. They encounter a third hiker, Bill, and they stop for a bite of lunch.
John has three buns for his lunch, Harry has two, and Bill doesn’t have any. John and Harry decide to split their buns with Bill. They cut their buns into three so that each can have five pieces.Bill is very grateful for this, and to show his thanks hands over £5 to John and Harry. How should this be split?
£3 to John and £2 to Harry? Or, £2.50 each?
Neither, if you want to be strictly fair.
Consider this. The five buns have been cut into threes, making fifteen portions in all. If Bill had not come on the scene, John would have had nine portions, and Harry six. But when Harry comes on the scene they each take five.
John has lost four, Harry only one. To be fair John should take £4 and Harry £1.
You may prefer equality here; you may want to be generous. But equity is different.The moral of the story is that sometimes equity/fair play will be positively unequal.
But what about the legal maxim “Equity is Equality”? I refer you to Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: “the law is a ass – a idiot.” Not always, but sometimes.
The small step you have to take here is to accept that Equity is not always Equality. Sometimes it is actually unequal. We shall move on to the really big step next time.