Foundational Terminology and Theory

So what is an equity lens?

Ida B. Wells, an African-American journalist, activist, and researcher, in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”^[1] Much like Wells’s advocacy for civil rights, leading with an equity lens in curriculum design means shining a light on underrepresented perspectives, centering them, and diving deeper into the histories of systemic oppression that lead to social injustices and disparities we live with today.

What is DEIA?

The DEIA acronym and other versions of it are often used but not always defined. Importantly, DEIA is a central tenet of the Catholic identity and university missions at all four OERFSJ Catholic institutions (Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Santa Clara University, Saint Mary’s College of California, and the University of San Francisco). Let’s explore the meaning of the terminology in general and Catholic senses to understand the application of the principle to curriculum at our Jesuit and Lasallian institutions.^[2]

• Diversity is the variety of characteristics that make up individuals’ unique identities, including race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, body size, abilities, and many others.
• Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all individuals, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups of people.
• Inclusion refers to creating a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is valued for their unique perspectives and contributions.
• Antiracism calls for actively identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems and selves. Catholic, including Jesuit principles, education is key to fighting against laws, cultures, systems, and behaviors that rob individuals and peoples of their equal and fundamental dignity.^[3]

Together, diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism (DEIA) are a set of principles that guide us in understanding how to value and leverage the differences among people to foster anti-oppressive learning environments and tools.

Why is DEIA Important to OERFSJ?

DEIA is important to OERFSJ because it is a central tenet of the educational missions of our four Catholic institutions. Prioritizing this educational mission is especially important because the federal government challenged the use of DEIA principles in higher education. Georgetown University, however, successfully defended the inclusion of DEIA educational practices based on the centrality of the principles to Catholic teachings and religious freedom.^[4] In their defense of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in a Jesuit curriculum, legal scholars at Georgetown University Law Center rooted the “fair treatment and greater participation especially of people who have been marginalized or underrepresented” in centuries-old Catholic and Jesuit teachings as well as distinctly American democratic liberty.^[5] In addition to the broader DEI terminology, the Catholic Church considers antiracism as equally vital because of the aim to rectify the sin of racism. Bishops in the U.S. Catholic Church specifically charged members with the “responsibility to resist and undo injustices of racism” beyond an individual’s personal responsibility.^[6] As a result, DEIA is a key educational tenet to the institutional missions of the four partner institutions, and central to the goals of OERFSJ.

What is the difference between equality and equity?

Now that we have clarity about DEIA, let’s turn to equality and equity. These are terms that are often used to explain the purpose or goals of DEIA teachings. Equality and equity are similar in that they both aim to promote fairness and justice for all individuals, but the terms distinguish the approach to this goal in different ways.

Equality is about treating everyone the same, regardless of their individual differences or needs. This approach assumes that everyone starts from the same place and has the same opportunities, so if everyone is given the same resources and support, it is assumed they will all achieve the same outcomes.

Equity recognizes that individuals have different needs and starts from the understanding that not everyone has the same advantages or opportunities. It aims to level the playing field by providing resources and support in a way that addresses these individual differences and needs.

Why are we focused on equity?

Diversity cannot be separated from equity, and equity is vital to sustainable inclusion: Equity is the bridge between institutional representation and institutional action.

Select the plus signs (+) below to review some of the main goals of DEIA frameworks.

An example of the difference between equality and equity is in education: equality in education would mean that every student is given the textbook, while equity in education would mean that each student is given the textbook and any resources they need to succeed, such as providing accommodations for students with disabilities.

In short, equality is treating everyone the same; equity is treating everyone fairly.

Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Intersectionality highlight how power structures in the United States privilege and disadvantage people. CRT was developed by Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado. As scholars in the legal field, Bell, Crenshaw, and Delgado sought to underscore the role of race and racism embedded in the political, social, and economic structures of the United States. What makes CRT unique is its emphasis on both theory and practice:

“[CRT} cannot be confined to a static and narrow definition but is considered to be an evolving and malleable practice. It critiques how the social construction of race and institutionalized racism perpetuate a racial caste system that relegates people of color to the bottom tiers. CRT also recognizes that race intersects with other identities, including sexuality, gender identity, and others.”^[8]

While CRT emphasizes race, your textbook will undoubtedly include topics related to gender, sexuality, religion, disability, and more. This is where intersectionality is important.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality was first coined in 1989 by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw.^[9] The legal scholar and civil rights advocate originally highlighted the importance of centering the experience of African American women at the intersection of both racism and sexism (hence the term: intersectionality), but scholars have applied Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality to a range of issues like gender, class, and disability.

While intersectionality is a crucial component of your equity lens, it’s important to note that it’s not a “grand theory of everything.”^[10] Intersectionality is your starting point for understanding why equity is important: we all hold multiple identities, and each of those identities can contribute to unique, varying experiences of inequality and oppression.