When equal isn’t equal: Contrasting equity and equality perspectives in supporting female professors

• Published in: Industrial and organizational psychology 2023-06, Vol.16 (2), p.248-251
• Main Authors: Chheda, Kinjal J., Beckel, Julia L. O., Gardner, Danielle M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Commentaries; Decision making; Families & family life; Females; Gender equity; Inequality; Social exclusion; Telecommuting; Work life balance; Workers with disabilities
• ISSN: 1754-9426; 1754-9434
• DOI: 10.1017/iop.2023.17

In considering equal treatment within the context of women-dominated topics (e.g., caregiving), because systems were not inherently designed with women in mind, there exists a risk of equality-based approaches defaulting toward practices unsupportive of the unique challenges faced by women in caregiving roles, in favor of the standard that more often benefits men. [...]it becomes critical to employ equity-based perspectives that consider the uniqueness of individuals when forming decisions or distributing resources, toward a more nuanced and appropriate conceptualization of fairness and justice. Identifying sources of inequity A first step to any change is determining the root cause of the problem, and equity-based perspectives are uniquely appropriate toward understanding circumstantial differences leading to baseline inequality. [...]it is imperative to collect data primarily from female faculty either through surveys, interviews, or focus groups to make informed, strategic decisions based in identifying and understanding the barriers faced by this particular group from their own perspective and in their own words. [...]department heads and colleagues should focus on fostering an equity-based, inclusive climate where caregiving is recognized as universally valued (i.e., male professors are also encouraged to actively participate in caregiving responsibilities) and women experience sufficient tangible and psychosocial support (i.e., offer leadership training).