I have been reflecting on equity and privilege. A lot people do not want to change things that may be perceived to having benefit to themselves. I listened to a fascinating podcast with Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell, who looked into what were the main factors for people getting in some Ivy League schools, or professional sports teams. The factor was when they were born, as in what months they were born. If they were older, as in able to start school or sports earlier in the year, they had far more chance of getting into the above. Meaning that slightly younger kids (by months) were not getting in because they hadn’t quite reached the same level of maturity. When the students were asked whether there should be age adjustments for this, they thought this was a bad idea. Predominately because it may disadvantage them, and “take their places”, after all their hard work.

This is familiar territory to many women and people who are not white. There is often little adjustment for differences and not much motivation to implement change, beyond lip service and tokenism.

If we think of equity, and flip it around, think of how lack of representation disadvantages all of us because we don’t recognise the talent of those around us. People, we miss out. Humanity missed out.