Fair Dinkum

‘Fair’ and ‘equal’ are both adjectives but they certainly aren’t equal.

Equality can be quantitatively measured by outcomes whereas fairness can only be qualitatively addressed by intentions.

Fairness is far more subjective and hence less useful in some circumstances than equality.

For example, the early suffragettes were pushing a cause which was designed to overcome systemic hypocrisy aimed at women, which however most people at the time thought was quite fair.

I suppose the moral to this story is that all ethical causes should start out by targeting ‘equality’ but as the battle proceeds, and as general opinion shifts as to what is fair, these causes should convert to the promotion of ‘fairness’.

In fact the enablement of this shift should be the primary focus of any ethical cause.

The problem with hanging onto the concept of equality long after the general population has accepted the principle of fairness is that a cause risks discriminating against others.

For example, there is now very little opposition to the concept of equal opportunities for women in Australia. This is considered fair.

Yet some women are still pushing for equality in outcomes. An example would be forcing the boards of public companies to have equal numbers of men and women; which runs the risk of discriminating against the more worthy.