Equality
Equality refers to the principle of equal distribution of resources, opportunities, and rewards within a society, irrespective of an individual's characteristics such as race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or religion. The concept has historical roots in the works of philosophers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who argued that societal inequality arises from the control of production resources, suggesting that a classless society could ultimately lead to a fair distribution based on individual needs. However, other theorists like Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore contend that some societal roles are inherently more important, and maintaining a degree of inequality is necessary to motivate individuals to pursue critical positions that benefit society.
Legally, the pursuit of equality has been a significant struggle for racial and ethnic minorities, especially in the United States. Landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Brown v. Board of Education, have sought to challenge and redefine the notion of equality, emphasizing that it encompasses intangible qualities beyond mere material comparisons. Despite these efforts, achieving full equality remains a complex challenge, as systemic inequalities persist even after legal advancements. Understanding equality involves recognizing its multifaceted nature and the ongoing discourse surrounding its implications in society.
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Equality
Equality is the balanced or equal distribution of resources, opportunities, and rewards provided by a society, regardless of an individual’s race, color, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or previous condition of servitude.
Historically, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, in The Communist Manifesto (1848), argued that the most important source of inequality within a society relates to the control or ownership of the means of production. They believed that after a prolonged struggle between two social classes they termed the bourgeoisie (the merchant class) and the proletariat (the worker class), a classless society and equality would emerge. The primary characteristic of this society would be the distribution of resources based on an individual’s needs. Because some individuals will need more and therefore receive more, this proposed method of distribution does not develop perfect equality within a society. However, Marx and Engels contended that resources would be in abundance, and all individuals within the society would have their needs met, so the slight inequality that would exist would be acceptable.
However, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore argued that inequality is necessary. They contended that certain positions within society are of greater importance than others to the well-being of society. If all individuals received equal shares of societal resources regardless of their position, there would be no motivation for an individual to attempt to achieve the rigorous training necessary to fill the important positions. Consequently, important activities might not be completed, resulting in damage to or the demise of society. Theorists such as Gerhard Lenski, Max Weber, and Talcott Parsons viewed stratification of society as inevitable and equality as potentially counter to the social forces at work within society.
Legally, equality has been an evasive goal for racial and ethnic minority groups throughout the history of the United States. In an effort to acquire equal access to societal resources, members of under-represented groups have appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States on several occasions. In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court rejected the argument of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and several lower courts that equality could be measured by such tangibles as condition of buildings, transportation, curricula, educational qualifications of teachers, quality and extent of teacher training, pupil-teacher ratio, extracurricular activities, and time and distance involved in travel to school. The Court ruled that equality involves qualities that are intangible and incapable of being measured. In addition, the Court stated that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal because of these intangible qualities. Through court cases such as Brown, the Supreme Court attempted to lend its power to racial and ethnic minority groups, thereby making it possible for them to become more successful in their efforts to acquire valuable resources and gain equality with the majority White group. However, these Supreme Court rulings, while being of assistance, have not completely alleviated social inequality in the United States.
Bibliography
Brennan, Catherine. Max Weber on Power and Social Stratification: An Interpretation and Critique. Ashgate, 1997.
Bowman, Kristi L., and James E. Ryan. The Pursuit of Racial and Ethnic Equality in American Public Schools: Mendez, Brown, and Beyond. Michigan State UP, 2015.
Davis, Kingsley, and Wilbert Moore. "Some Principles of Stratification." American Sociological Review, vol. 10, no. 2, 1945, pp. 242–49.
Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. 1848. Penguin, 2014.
Sarat, Austin. Civil Rights in American Law, History, and Politics. Cambridge UP, 2014.
"Two Landmark Decisions in the Fight for Equality and Justice." National museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/two-landmark-decisions-fight-equality-and-justice. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.