On June 10, 2018, CO:LAB facilitated a workshop on social equity for students and faculty of the University of Hartford’s Nomad/9 MFA program. (Quick aside, Nomad/9 is a new, innovative graduate art program. Check it out here: www.nomad9mfa.org). This workshop represents the first of its kind for the graduate program, and a continuation of CO:LAB’s work in diversity, inclusion, and the ultimate goal of teaching and living social equity.
We structured the workshop around a series of activities that encouraged students to get to know each other better as people in general, and in the contexts of their individual identities and backgrounds. We discussed the relationships between community and culture, power and privilege (and how they are supported by systems – both on institutional and ideological levels), bias, the importance of understanding identity and the experience of power through an intersectional lens, intention versus impact, and the difference between “equality” and “equity.”
So, what is the difference? Why do we need to differentiate between equality and equity as approaches to addressing social injustice? Equity acknowledges the history of and present day disparities that exist in our society. This differs from equality because everyone getting treated “equal” may not actually be equitable. Individuals do not start at equal points with equal abilities, resources, and social statuses. Therefore, an equitable approach to justice may require unequal responses that factor for our unequal foundations.
Equity work is always a work in progress: we know we need to keep learning and improving based on the impact we create. We’re excited to share our knowledge and continue our learning together with Nomad/9.