Many people hear the words equality and equity and assume they are the same. At their core, these two words are related, but their meaning is nuanced. Equality is giving people the same things and assuming that they benefit from the same supports, whereas equity is making sure that there is fairness in every situation and that everyone gets the support they need.
I’ve thought a lot about equality and equity and how they can apply to Scouting. Not long ago, I was invited to be part of a committee involved in making decisions on the rebuilding of Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan. I was an assistant Scoutmaster and Scout mom who has stayed at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan. I am a disabled person who often uses a cane to get around. I am also female. I wanted to make sure that our committee’s decisions were equitable.
Let me give you a few examples:
Before the storm hit Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan in 2019, we had bathrooms/latrines marked for females, with the facilities outfitted and maintained at the same level as the ones for males. It might have been equal, but it wasn’t equitable. Where are nonbinary Scouts supposed to go when nature calls? Maybe they do not feel comfortable using gendered bathrooms. By creating an all-gender bathroom, our facilities are now more equitable, because most Scouts have a bathroom that they can use. They feel supported in their identity, regardless of gender.
This past summer, I went up to see my daughters who were on camp staff. I was also there to see the Order of the Arrow fire, and during the ceremony, I needed to use a bathroom. I could not use the standard latrine lest I risk a nasty fall and broken bones. While there are accessible (handicap) bathrooms, they were locked, and no one on staff seemed to have the key. Eventually I was allowed to use a staff bathroom that was indoors and somewhat accessible, though I still struggled to find a support beam to hold onto while I used the facilities. Was this equal? Sure—there was a bathroom I could use. But was it equitable? No, because I couldn’t use the bathroom intended for people like me.
On a related note, a female camp staff member told me that she struggled to use the bathrooms: When it is that time of the month, most of us carry our supplies and usually put them on the sink or a shelf near the toilet, which these bathrooms did not have. Without a place to put our feminine products, we had to do acrobatics to make sure that we cleaned ourselves and used our products without them falling into the toilet. Thankfully, small shelves have been added for that purpose, which now makes the bathrooms equitable for Scouts of all genders.
Back to the OA fire. Usually, disabled people like me get a ride to the fire bowl. You might think that’s equality, because I can go to the fire bowl, too. But it is not equitable, because I cannot climb the steps into the fire bowl seating. I was given a ride to the top, where I could access seating much easier. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was definitely an equitable one.
Northeast Illinois Council is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. While equal facilities, programs and opportunities are a start, they’re not enough. We can do better.
Remember, equity and equality are not about making things “easier” for certain Scouts. It’s about making sure that everyone has the same access to activities and opportunities and leveling the playing field for those who need additional supports.
Please look at ways you can make sure all of the Scouts in your units and at your camps have access to the things they need to be successful in Scouting.
By Violeta Flemenbaum
The Northeast Illinois Council’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee shares information and experiences that support the council’s commitment to bringing in and including Scouts and Scouters from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to belong.