Systemic Challenges Facing Policy Social Equity D

Objectives

1. Exploring the history and evolution of social equity in Public Administration
2. Understanding of the various policies and diversity of Social Equity
3. Examining the systemic challenges facing policy makers in policy formation to address historical injustices.
4. Analyzing the National Academy of Public Administration’s (NAPA) Stand on Social Equity

What is Due?

Week 3 discussion: Over the years both the subject of social equity and its language have changed. Equity is now more broadly defined to include not just race and gender but ethnicity, sexual preference, certain mental and physical conditions, language, and variations in economic circumstances. The words multiculturalism and diversity are now often used to suggest this broader definition of social equity.

George Frederickson advocated for equity to join efficiency and economy as the third pillar of public administration. According to Frederickson applying social equity in public administration initially concentrated on “issues of race and gender in employment, democratic participation, and service delivery” after the passage of the Civil Rights Act in the late ’60s.

Drawing from the literature and the readings this week, and using examples, why are we still talking about social equity in the 21st Century as if this is a new concept? Why is the the US still dealing with systemic marginalization of its underrepresented population? And what are some of the major policy issues, problems and gaps that have contributed to different layers of discrimination, injustices and inequities in public policy formulation?

Readings attached

Introduction

Social equity remains one of the major pillars of Public Administration. It cuts across every aspect of the discipline. Unfortunately, it is the area that has been neglected for far too long regardless of various policies and programs that have been passed at various local, state and national level to promote equity. At the heart of the concept of promoting public value is the concept social equity. Historically, we have witnessed myriad inequities, injustices among underrepresented cultures and, the unbridled marginalization of minority population.

At the crux of this discussion is the ongoing revelation of the systemic disparities that we witnessed over the years. Today, the COVID Pandemic, for example, has revealed the stark reality of how the very policies designed to promote, justice, equity and fairness has been used to destroy the minority population. Multiple systems we helped build and operate have enabled, and far too often exacerbated, structural inequities that trace race and income lines.

The reading this week will provide you the historical background of social justice equity. Social equity evolved in American public administrative systems through the search for a civil service that would be connected with popular opinions and maintain the ideals of a cultured and self-sufficient institution. Because the institution is saddled with the responsibility of implementing laws and policies, it struggles with the issues of fairness, justice and equality. https://patimes.org/social-equality-public-administration-2/

The issue of inequality is manifested through different forms in the society. These include disparity between the educated and non-educated; the citizens and the migrants; the rich and the poor; the adults and the juveniles; the men and the women; the whites and nonwhites; as well as dichotomies between and among professionals and religious faithful. At any given time, there is usually a cry of marginalization. The matter has even attracted the attention of the political class who use it as a tool for campaigns during election cycles. Inequality is a monster that is destroying society.

Watch Week Two Video on Social Equity and Public Administration