People often use the terms "equity" and "equality" interchangeably. But, according to Alford Young, the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Department of Sociology and a professor of African and African American Studies and Ford school courtesy faculty, they shouldn't.
"I think what's driving the focus on equity is this now long-standing realization that there are such differences in certain social outcomes that require different means of address, or that the different populations need different things," Young said.