Fairness and justice, especially in the way people are treated or resources are shared. In finance, it also means the value of ownership in something, like a house or company, after debts are subtracted.
From Old French *equité*, from Latin *aequitas* meaning 'equality, fairness, uniformity', from *aequus* 'even, just, equal'. In law, it came to mean a system focused on fairness when strict rules gave harsh results.
Equity goes a step beyond equality: instead of giving everyone the same thing, it tries to give people what they actually need to be on similar footing. The same root that gave us a math-like idea of 'equal' grew into a legal and moral idea of 'fair'. The financial meaning—your 'equity' in a house—quietly echoes that sense of what’s truly, fairly yours.
In modern social and legal discourse, “equity” is central to conversations about gender, race, and class, particularly in employment, pay, and access to resources. Historically, legal and financial systems labeled as pursuing 'equity' often excluded women and gender minorities from property rights, voting, and fair compensation, which shaped how the term is used in policy and advocacy.
When using “equity” in a social or workplace context, be explicit about which groups are included (e.g., gender, race, disability) and avoid assuming a default male or majority experience. Distinguish clearly between 'equality' (same treatment) and 'equity' (fair outcomes given different starting points).
["fairness","justice","equitable treatment","equitable access"]
Discussions of equity in law, economics, and education should explicitly acknowledge the work of women and gender‑diverse scholars and activists who have driven equity reforms, including in pay equity, reproductive rights, and anti‑discrimination law, even when they were excluded from formal institutions.
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