Where McKinsey & Company’s definition of equity goes wrong – and this is also where many people misunderstand the distinction between equity and equality — is where it states, “Equity differs from equality in a subtle but important way. While equality assumes that all people should be treated the same, equity takes into consideration a person’s unique circumstances, adjusting treatment accordingly so that the end result is equal” [emphasis added]. You see, true equity doesn’t “adjust” for anything.

And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the people with equity. – Ps 9:8 (NASB)

In an August 17, 2022, article published on the website of the management and consulting firm McKinsey & Company, titled What Is diversity, equity, and inclusion?, the word equity is defined as follows:

Equity refers to fair treatment for all people, so that the norms, practices, and policies in place ensure identity is not predictive of opportunities or workplace outcomes. Equity differs from equality in a subtle but important way. While equality assumes that all people should be treated the same, equity takes into consideration a person’s unique circumstances, adjusting treatment accordingly so that the end result is equal.[1]

That definition starts off pretty well.

In fact, I wholeheartedly concur with McKinsey & Company insomuch that equity, in practice, refers to “fair treatment for all people, so that the norms, practices, and policies in place ensure identity is not predictive of opportunities or workplace outcomes.” (By the way, another way of saying “ensure identity is not predictive of opportunities or workplace outcomes” is “ensure no individual is discriminated against in order to produce predictive opportunities or manipulate workplace outcomes.”)

That parenthetical comment is important because where McKinsey & Company’s definition of equity goes wrong – and this is also where many people misunderstand the distinction between equity and equality — is where it states, “Equity differs from equality in a subtle but important way.

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