Equality Class 11 Political Science

Equality means that every person is equally valuable and should be treated fairly and with respect, no matter their gender, race, caste, or background. It doesn’t mean treating everyone exactly the same, but it does mean that no one should be treated unfairly because of things they were born with or can’t control. The goal is to create a society where everyone has access to basic goods and opportunities to realise their potential.

Why does Equality Matter?

• The idea of equality has been an important moral and political influence, motivating society for many centuries.
• As a political idea, equality supports the belief that every person has the same value, no matter their gender, race, colour, or nationality.
• It claims that all humans deserve equal attention and respect because of their shared humanity.
• Today, equality is a common ideal found in the constitutions and laws of many nations, although acceptance of this idea varies significantly across different countries.
• In recent times, the equality of all individuals has been a rallying cry in the fights against governments and social systems that maintain differences in rank, wealth, status, or privilege.
• However, it is inequality that is more prominent in our world and even in our own communities. For example, we see slums next to luxurious homes, schools with excellent facilities alongside those lacking basic amenities like drinking water and toilets, and the waste of food, while others face starvation.

Paradox

• One of the biggest paradoxes today is that even though the idea of equality is widely accepted, inequality remains common in nearly every area of life.
• Social, economic, and political inequalities around the world are often supported by customs and laws that prevent certain groups from accessing specific opportunities and benefits.
• This paradox shows the difficulties society faces in achieving equality, yet inequality is more noticeable in our surroundings, both globally and locally. For example, we see slums next to luxury homes and schools with top-notch facilities alongside those lacking basic amenities like drinking water and toilets.
• These issues have concerned people for years. Addressing this paradox requires a thorough approach that recognises the complex nature of inequality and aims to build a society that fosters fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for everyone.

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 unfair when people are treated differently solely due to their religion, race, caste, or gender.
• People may have different ambitions and goals, and not everyone will be equally successful.
• Believing in equality does not mean erasing all kinds of differences.
• It simply means that the treatment we receive and the chances we get should not be decided by our birth or social background.

Equality of Opportunities

• The idea of equality means that everyone deserves the same rights and chances to develop their skills and talents, and to chase their goals and dreams.
• People have various talents, which means some may achieve more success in their careers than others.
• The key issue is not the lack of equality in status, wealth, or privilege, but rather the unequal access to basic needs like education, healthcare, and safe housing, which leads to an unfair society.
• Just because only a few become top cricketers or successful lawyers does not mean society is unequal.

Natural and Social Inequalities

Natural Inequalities

• Natural inequalities occur among individuals because of their unique abilities and talents.
• These are different from social inequalities, which happen due to unequal opportunities or the exploitation of certain groups.
• Natural inequalities are seen as the result of the various traits and skills people are born with.
• It is generally believed that these natural differences cannot be changed.

Social Inequalities

• Social inequalities are formed by societal factors.
• Some societies may value intellectual work more than manual labour, leading to different rewards.
• People may be treated differently based on their race, colour, gender, or caste.
• These differences reflect societal values and can sometimes be seen as unfair.
• As a result, many theorists now distinguish between inequalities based on personal choices and those due to family or circumstances of birth.

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

Different thinkers and ideas have pointed out three key aspects of equality: political, social, and economic. They also highlight various types of inequalities present in society. To create a fairer and more equal society, we must tackle each of these three aspects of equality.

Political Equality

• In democratic societies, political equality generally means providing equal citizenship to everyone in the state.
• Equal citizenship includes fundamental rights such as the right to vote, freedom of expression, movement, association, and belief.
• These rights are essential for citizens to develop and engage in state matters.
• Significant inequality can still exist in countries that officially grant equal rights to all citizens.
• While political and legal equality alone may not be enough to establish a fair and equal society, it is still a crucial part of it.

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.

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.