There are many definitions of equity floating around in society these days. Some would say it’s the DESIRE to be fair and impartial. Some would say it IS being fair and impartial. Then there is a few that would argue both of those definitions are wrong and inequitable because we can never provide a space where everyone is treated fair and impartial.
I personally believe there is no real definition of equity because how can society determine what’s fair to someone else? How can we determine as a society how our ways of thinking affect someone else? How can we judge others based on their upbringing? How can we look down on someone because they weren’t given the privileges and opportunities that we were given? Who are we to say our way of thinking is any better than anyone else’s? These are judgments not fairness.
You see each aspect of who we are, could be scrutinized, held against us and cause us to question if someone is being fair or impartial towards us. Perception is personal and fluctuates depending on our own emotions and experiences.
It’s not our job to determine if what we believe to be true is actually true. It’s our job to make sure what we believe does not make others feel mistreated or inferior because of what they believe to be true.
The fight for equity has posed an assortment of emotional outbreaks, marches, riots, pleas to be heard from everyone. Yet no one is listening to anyone. It must be determined that ALL lives matter, that ALL voices are heard, that ALL opinions are just that “opinions”. There is no right or wrong until what you determine to be right or wrong makes someone else feel less than.
My stand against the fight for equity is not whether people are being treated fair or impartial. My argument is why do we have to assure political correctness when approaching the intentional racist and derogatory statements of those in high places while disregarding the feelings and emotions of those that are being attacked. Just because of your color, your education, your status, your position does not give you permission to disqualify the emotions of someone else.
We could fight back and forth about whether equity is about fairness or impartiality towards others that are different than we are. But the real question is would it matter? Will determining an accurate definition of what equity is, change that fact someone is going to feel they have been treated unfairly or impartial? Why can’t we just accept that society as a whole has biases and there are differences in our upbringing, our beliefs, and our interpretations of reality? Why can’t we as society make a promise to not allow these differences to interfere with the way we see others, but as a way in which we can help each other? My way is not wrong. Your way is not wrong. But when we use it to disqualify another human being we all lose.
What do you think? Could equity be solved by taking a moment to evaluate how the other person would feel? Would it really matter? Could our society put the feelings of others before their own? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Until Next Time,
