This is a simple yet profound statement that rings true in today’s society. Too often, people think that fairness is synonymous with equality. However, this is not the case. Fairness is about giving people an equal opportunity to succeed, but equality is about giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.
Equality is a cornerstone of our society, and it is important that we maintain it. However, equality is not always possible or desirable. For example, suppose that you are looking for a job. If you are equally qualified for every job that is available, you will likely not be hired. Instead, the employer will likely give preference to someone who is more qualified.
In some cases, it is unfair for one person to have an advantage over another. For example, suppose that you are a basketball player and I am a basketball player. It would be unfair for me to be able to dunk on you every time we play, because that would give me an advantage. The same principle applies to other areas of life.
People often think that fairness requires that everyone be treated the same. However, this is not always fair. For example, suppose that you are a teacher and I am a student. It would be unfair for you to give me a harder assignment than you give other students, because that would give me an advantage.
Similarly, it is often unfair for people to be treated differently based on their race, ethnicity, or gender. For example, it would be unfair for me to be treated differently than you when we go to the store, because that would give me an advantage.
Fairness is about giving people an equal opportunity to succeed, but equality is about giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.
