Equality Class 11 Political Science

Why does Equality Matter?

• The ideal of equality has been a significant moral and political force, inspiring human society for many centuries.
• As a political concept, equality upholds the notion that every individual possesses equal worth, regardless of their gender, race, colour, or nationality.

• It asserts that human beings merit equal consideration and regard, owing to their shared humanity.
• Nowadays, the principle of equality is widely acknowledged, and is enshrined in the constitutions and laws of numerous countries.
• However, the prevalence of inequality, rather than equality, is conspicuous both globally and domestically. We observe slums coexisting alongside luxurious housing in our own society.

Paradox

• One of the greatest paradoxes of our time is that while the ideal of equality is widely accepted, inequality is still prevalent in almost all aspects of life.
• Despite the recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, inequality still persists in various forms such as unequal distribution of wealth, limited opportunities, discriminatory work practices, and unequal distribution of power.
• This paradox highlights the challenges that society faces in realizing the ideal of equality and calls for a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of social, economic, and political factors that perpetuate inequality.
• Efforts to address this paradox must involve a comprehensive approach that takes into account the multifaceted nature of inequality and seeks to create a society that promotes fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for all.

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What is Equality?

• Treating people with equal respect does not necessarily mean treating them in an identical manner.
• No society treats all of its members equally under every circumstance.
• A smoothly functioning society requires the division of labour and functions, and individuals often have different statuses and rewards because of it.
• At times, these differences in treatment may seem acceptable or even necessary. For instance, providing prime ministers or army generals with a special official rank and status is typically seen as compatible with the notion of equality, as long as their privileges are not abused.

Which distinctions and differences are acceptable and which are not?

• It is considered an unacceptable form of inequality when people are treated differently simply because of their religion, race, caste, or gender.
• People may have varying ambitions and goals, and not all will be equally successful.
• The commitment to the ideal of equality does not entail the elimination of all differences.
• It simply implies that the treatment we receive and the opportunities we have must not be predetermined by birth or social circumstances.

Equality of Opportunities

• The concept of equality suggests that all people, as human beings, have the same rights and opportunities to develop their skills and talents and to pursue their goals and aspirations.
• People have different talents and skills, resulting in some being more successful in their chosen careers than others.
• It is not the lack of equality of status, wealth, or privilege that is significant but the inequalities in people's access to basic goods such as education, healthcare, and safe housing, that create an unjust and unequal society.

Natural and Social Inequalities

Natural Inequalities

• Natural inequalities arise between individuals due to their diverse capabilities and talents.
• These inequalities are distinct from socially produced inequalities, which emerge due to inequalities of opportunity or exploitation of some groups in society by others.
• These inequalities are considered the result of the different characteristics and abilities with which people are born.

Social Inequalities

• These inequalities are created by society.
• Certain societies may value those who perform intellectual work more highly than those who perform manual labour and reward them differently.
• Societies may treat people differently based on their race, colour, gender, or caste.
• These differences reflect the values of a society, and some may be viewed as unjust.

Other Problems

• This distinction is sometimes useful in distinguishing between acceptable and unjust inequalities in society, but it is not always clear or self-evident.
• When certain inequalities in the treatment of people have persisted for a long time, they may appear justifiable because they are based on natural inequalities, that is, characteristics that people are born with and cannot easily change.
• For instance, women were once described as the weaker sex, considered timid and less intelligent than men, and believed to require special protection. Therefore, it was thought that denying women equal rights could be justified.
• Another issue with the idea of natural differences is that some differences that could be considered natural may no longer be regarded as unalterable.
• For instance, advances in medical science and technology have aided many individuals with disabilities to function effectively in society. Today, computers can assist visually impaired individuals, wheelchairs and artificial limbs can aid those with physical disabilities, and cosmetic surgery can alter a person's appearance. It would seem unjust to most people today if disabled individuals were denied necessary help to overcome the effects of their disability or a fair reward for their work on the grounds that they are naturally less capable.
• These complexities make it difficult to use the natural/socially produced distinction as a standard by which to assess the laws and policies of a society.

Three Dimensions of Equality

Various thinkers and ideologies have identified three main dimensions of equality: political, social, and economic while recognizing different kinds of inequalities that exist in society.

Political Equality

•  In democratic societies, political equality usually means granting equal citizenship to everyone in the state. 
• Equal citizenship includes basic rights like the right to vote, freedom of expression, movement, association, and belief. 
•  These rights, protected by the constitution and laws, help citizens develop and take part in state affairs. 
•  However, even in countries where equal rights are granted, social and economic inequalities may persist due to differences in resources and opportunities. 
•  This is why people often call for equal opportunities or a "level playing field." 
•  While political and legal equality alone cannot create a fully just society, they are essential steps toward achieving it. 

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Social Equality

• Political equality, or equality before the law, is an essential first step toward equality but often needs to be supported by equality of opportunities. 
• Legal equality removes barriers that exclude people from participating in government or accessing social benefits. 
•  However, true equality also requires that individuals from all groups have a fair chance to compete for opportunities. 
•  This means addressing social and economic inequalities by ensuring basic necessities like health care, quality education, proper nutrition, and a minimum wage for everyone. 
•  Without these, it is difficult for all members of society to compete equally, leading to wasted potential talent. 
•  In India, equal opportunities face unique challenges due to customs in some regions or communities. 
•  For instance, women may lack inheritance rights, face restrictions on certain activities, or be discouraged from pursuing higher education. 
•  To address this, the state must enact policies to prevent discrimination, promote education and employment for women, and ensure their safety. 
• Social groups and individuals also play a vital role by raising awareness and supporting those who wish to exercise their rights. 

Economic Equality

• Economic inequality exists in a society when there are significant differences in wealth, property, or income among individuals or groups. It can be measured by comparing the wealth of the richest and poorest groups or by counting the number of people living below the poverty line. 
•  Absolute equality of wealth or income has likely never existed, but most democracies aim to provide equal opportunities. This approach seeks to give everyone with talent and determination a fair chance to improve their situation. However, even with equal opportunities, inequalities may persist, though individuals may still rise through effort. 
•  Some inequalities are entrenched, persisting across generations. When certain groups have enjoyed wealth and power for generations while others remain poor, society can become sharply divided. Such divisions can lead to resentment and violence. 
• Reforming these entrenched systems can be difficult due to the influence of wealthy classes, but addressing these inequalities is crucial for creating a more open and egalitarian society. 

Marxism and liberalism are two important political ideologies of our times that have different views on how to tackle inequality.

• Marxism: Marx argued that private ownership of essential economic resources, such as oil, land, or forests, is the root cause of entrenched inequality that gives political power to the class of owners, posing a threat to democratic government. Marxists and socialists believe that economic inequality provides support to other forms of social inequality and advocate for public control over essential resources and forms of property.
• Liberalism: Liberals uphold the principle of competition as the most efficient and fair way of distributing resources and rewards in society. They believe that while states may have to intervene to ensure a minimum standard of living and equal opportunities for all, competition should be open and free, and inequalities in each of the spheres should be tackled appropriately. Unlike socialists, liberals do not believe that political, economic, and social inequalities are necessarily linked.

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Feminism: Equality of the Genders

• Feminism is a political belief in equal rights for men and women. Feminists, both men and women, argue that many inequalities between the sexes are not natural or necessary and can be changed to ensure both genders lead free and equal lives.
• According to feminists, these inequalities stem from patriarchy, a system that values men more than women and grants men power over women. Patriarchy assumes that men and women are naturally different, justifying their unequal roles. 
• Feminists challenge this by distinguishing between sex (biological differences) and gender (social roles). For example, while only women can bear children, it does not mean that only women should care for them after birth. Feminists argue that much of the inequality is created by society, not biology.
• Patriarchy divides responsibilities, assigning women to the private/domestic sphere and men to the public sphere. 
• However, feminists highlight that many women also work outside the home while remaining solely responsible for household duties—a "double burden." Despite their contributions, women often lack a voice in public decision-making. Feminists believe this division and all forms of gender inequality must be eliminated.

Socialism

Socialism is a set of political ideas that arose in response to the inequalities created and sustained by the industrial capitalist economy. It focuses on reducing inequality and ensuring a fair distribution of resources. While socialists do not entirely oppose markets, they support government regulation and control in key areas like education and health care.

In India, the prominent socialist thinker Rammanohar Lohia identified five major inequalities that needed to be addressed simultaneously:

• inequality between men and women,
• inequality based on skin color,
• caste-based inequality,
• colonial domination, and
• economic inequality.

During Lohia’s time, many socialists believed that class inequality was the only significant issue and that other forms of inequality would disappear once economic inequality was resolved. However, Lohia argued that each form of inequality had its own roots and needed to be tackled individually.

Lohia referred to these struggles as five revolutions and later added two more:

• one for civil liberties, opposing unjust intrusions on private life, and
• another for non-violence, advocating for the use of Satyagraha instead of weapons.

These seven revolutions, or Sapta Kranti, represented Lohia’s vision of socialism.

How can we promote Equality?

We need to consider if the use of affirmative action is justified for purposes of bringing about equality.

Establishing Formal Equality

• The first step towards bringing about equality is ending the formal system of inequality and privileges.
• Social, economic and political inequalities all over the world have been protected by customs and legal systems that prohibited some sections of society from enjoying certain kinds of opportunities and rewards.
• Attainment of equality requires that all such restrictions or privileges should be brought to an end. This is what Indian Constitution does.
• The Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Indian Constitution also abolishes the practice of untouchability.
• Most modern constitutions and democratic governments have formally accepted the principle of equality and incorporated it as identical treatment by law to all citizens without any regard to their caste, race, religion or gender.

Equality Through Differential Treatment

• Sometimes it is necessary to treat people differently in order to ensure that they can enjoy equal rights.
• For example, disabled people may justifiably demand special ramps in public spaces so that they get an equal chance to enter public buildings.
• Some countries have used policies of affirmative action to enhance equality of opportunity. In India, we have relied on the policy of reservations.

Affirmative Action

• Affirmative action is based on the idea that it is not sufficient to establish formal equality by law.
• Affirmative action can however take many forms, from preferential spending on facilities for disadvantaged communities, such as, scholarships and hostels to special consideration for admissions to educational institutions and jobs.
• In our country we have adopted a policy of quotas or reserved seats in education and jobs to provide equality of opportunity to deprived groups. This has been the subject of considerable debate and disagreement.
• Special assistance in the form of affirmative action is expected to be a temporary or time-bound measure.
• Critics of positive discrimination contend that any provision of reservations or quotas for the deprived in admissions for higher education or jobs is unfair as it arbitrarily denies other sections of society their right to equal treatment.
• In the context of this debate, it is relevant to draw a distinction between equality as a guiding principle of state policy and equal rights of individuals.
• Individuals have a right to equal consideration for admission to educational institutions and public sector employment.
• Members of excluded groups, whether they are dalits, women, or any other category, deserve and need some special help. To provide this, the state must devise social policies which would help to make such people equal and give them a fair chance to compete with others.
• The spheres of education and health care India has done far less for its deprived population than what is their due.
• Social and economic inequalities of this kind hinder the pursuit of equal opportunities.
• The policies that we choose would have to be justified in terms of their success in making the society more egalitarian and fair to all.
• On the issue of equality, a distinction must also be made between treating everyone in an identical manner and treating everyone as equal.
• Differential or special treatment may be considered to realise the goal of equality but it requires justification and careful reflection.
• Many of these issues relating to the pursuit of equality have been raised by the women's movement.
• In the nineteenth century women struggled for equal rights. They demanded, for instance, the right to vote, the right to receive degrees in colleges and universities and the right to work — that is, the same rights as the men in their society.
• As they entered the job market they realised that women required special facilities in order to exercise these rights.
• Differential treatment is intended and justified only as a means to promoting a just and egalitarian society.