| 4 min read |
Equity. Just a buzzword, right? No, this word carries significant meaning. Experts, scholars, and advocates have brought it to the forefront of our society’s attention, helping us imagine a healthier, more joy-filled world.
We have a long way to go.
If “equity” feels like too big of a word, I recommend listening to Dr. Dwinita Mosby Tyler, Chief Catalyst and Founder of The Equity Project. Her expertise and stories push me to act in seemingly small moments of injustice. Spoiler: there’s no “small” moment of injustice.
As I learn about this word, the stories attached, and what it means for our food system, I deeply appreciate the people who continue to teach and learn. May equity be our framework as we grow.
Let’s start with the basics!
What’s equity?
Merriam-Webster describes the general concept as a noun meaning “fairness or justice in the way people are treated” and “freedom from bias or favoritism.”
The American Psychological Association describes equity as a verb:
“Providing resources according to the need to help diverse populations achieve their highest state of health and other functioning…an ongoing process of assessing needs, correcting historical inequities, and creating conditions for optimal outcomes by members of all social identity groups.”
When we talk about equity, we tend to talk about a guiding concept. (Though framing it as a verb could be beneficial.)
It guides our perceptions of others and ourselves, how we create our programs and policies, and it reminds us to see systemic issues through individual experiences.
Let’s see it: Visual stories about equity
Since 2013, a popular (and accidental) meme has tried to differentiate equality and equity. Three people are standing against a baseball fence to watch a game. Have you seen it?
There are roughly one million versions of this meme, but I’ll focus on the original with “equality” on one side and “equity” on the other.
On the “equality” side, the three people stand on a single box to look over the fence. The tallest sees easily. The person of medium height holds onto the fence but can see. The shortest still cannot see.
On the “equity” side, they are all able to see over the fence. The tallest stands on the ground (not requiring any assistance), the middle stands on one box (only requiring some assistance), and the shortest stands on two boxes (requiring the most assistance).
Here, equity is about giving people what they need to reach the same height.
There are important critiques of this story.
Some focus on the background: Why are they outside the fence and not in the stadium? Why could they not afford or secure tickets? (This wasn’t the point of the original but is an interesting storyline.)
Then there are physical critiques: Does the fence require an “ideal height” that just may not be achievable for some? Why not take down the fence?
Now for the deeper story: Does the person’s height equate to their perceived worthiness in society? (Do we, subconsciously or not, look down on the shortest one with the least resources?)
Does “giving” boxes (or social benefits, donations) solve long-term problems? Is the problem the people’s height or the fence?
Another version of the meme includes a third panel. The first panels remain as “equality” and “equity.” The third shows “liberation,” in which the fence was taken down for all to see.
Each version opens important conversations about equity in different contexts, critiques included.
Equity + food access
So what does this mean in terms of our food system?
Food equity is the idea that everyone has the opportunity and resources to grow, obtain, sell, trade, dispose, and understand their food in a way that is healthy, affordable, and culturally celebratory.
Access and equity go hand in hand. The latter emphasizes the community’s democratic control over the process and policies.
It’s not a box to check or a one-time act. It requires a continual internal process of recognizing injustices and an external process of tearing down barriers.
From what I understand, food equity is an umbrella under which food justice, sovereignty, and security reside. It’s one of the main food [access language] groups, if you will.
If we believe food is a human right, then equity must guide our restructuring. In particular, racial equity must be a part of every food conversation –from land access to personal health to local markets.
Every body deserves food that nurtures. Food that sustains the individual, communities, and the earth.
Not just the quantity of food. Quality. Choice. Foodways in which the community decides how the network is set up. It requires this “democracy” we hear about. Let’s create and protect more of that.
Now serving food equity:
- Just Root’s resource list of organizations to support, action steps you can take, and good reads
- “Black Food Matters: Race and Equity in the Good Food Movement” talk by Devita Davison’s at Change Food Fest
| The Food Access Language series investigates how we talk about our food. Let’s ask how our words impact our ability to put food on our tables. Unpacking this language reveals how we’ve built our foodways. This reflection helps us take steps toward more accessible food for all. |
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