Citizenship in Society Merit Badge workshop

[@ScouterScottBSA]

Your definition of equity is completely incorrect. Equity is about providing equal opportunities, NOT equal outcomes. Equity is providing a disabled person with accommodations. If a blind student needs to take notes, many schools provide a note taker, whose notes are then transcribed to audio. If a women wants to play golf, they have a different green to tee off so they have an equal opportunity to make par as does someone who is stronger. If you are on a bowling league, scores are weighted with handicaps because it gives more teams a shot a winning, which makes it more competitive for everyone. Equity is about leveling the playing field so everyone is encouraged to work hard to try and succeed. Equity is about “equal opportunity” and the adult merit badge informational packet clearly and correctly spells that out.

[@SpiritOfTheScouter]

Equity means adjusting shares so that outcomes are made equal. This can be done by giving additional help to the disadvantaged, as in the examples you provide. A woman golfer has her tee position (share) adjusted so that her chance at par (outcome) is made more fair. We can also adjust shares by putting extra responsibility, restrictions, or hardship on those with privilege or high success. So your definition of "Equity" and my definition are both right. However, your definition doesn't account for those that aren't able to just "work hard" and succeed. What happens if a woman bowler is given a handicap but loses anyway? To be a truly fair society, we all have to ensure that the highly skilled, competent, or productive are not allowed to win more often than anyone else.