Kartunet - The concept of equality is often championed as the primary solution for achieving justice in various development programs and public policies. However, treating everyone the same does not necessarily create true justice, especially for vulnerable groups like women with disabilities. Visually impaired women's activist, Mareta Maha, emphatically reminds us that equality without being accompanied by equity (proportional fairness/justice) is ultimately just an illusion or a mere pipe dream.
The Shoe Analogy: The Pitfall of Standardizing Needs
Errors in understanding justice often stem from the assumption that "giving everyone the exact same thing means it's already fair." Mareta illustrates the fundamental difference between equality and equity through the analogy of distributing shoes.
If the government provides a pair of shoes with the exact same design and size to one hundred people, that is a form of equality (equal provision). In terms of quantity, it appears fair because everyone receives shoes. However, not all of those shoes will be wearable. For those with different foot sizes, the shoes would be useless. Equity steps in to bridge this gap: it ensures that the shoes provided truly match the specific size, condition, and needs of the individual receiving them.
In the context of literacy and public information, equality means providing the same reading material to all citizens. However, equity means ensuring that for visually impaired readers, the book is available in a format accessible by a screen reader or in Braille. Justice is not measured by the uniformity of the item given, but by the extent to which the item can be utilized (function) by its recipient.
The Reality of Intersectionality and Layered Discrimination
This understanding of equity becomes crucial because women with disabilities experience what is sociologically termed "intersectionality," which refers to layered identities and backgrounds of vulnerability. A woman with a disability not only carries physical or sensory barriers but also bears her dual identity as a woman, and perhaps also comes from an underprivileged family, a remote area, or a minority group. It is this intersectionality that demands highly specific and targeted policy understanding and action.
Indonesian law has, in fact, recognized this reality of double vulnerability. In Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, the state explicitly guarantees that women with disabilities have the right to receive greater protection from "layered discrimination." Layered discrimination is defined as discrimination experienced by a woman not only due to her disability but also due to her gender, which causes her to lose equal opportunities in the family, community, and state spheres. Findings in the Book Monitoring the Fulfillment of Disability Rights also confirm this, where women with disabilities are sociologically proven to experience layered vulnerability and double discrimination throughout their life cycle, from childhood to old age.
Leadership as an Act Against the Status Quo
Facing such systemic barriers and intersectionality, a "one-size-fits-all" approach will clearly never solve the root problems. Women with disabilities are often considered second-class citizens or merely accessories whose social roles are confined to the domestic sphere.
Therefore, claiming leadership spaces for women with disabilities is not merely a career matter, but an act of resistance to challenge the status quo and declare that they no longer wish to live in the shadows. If women with disabilities are only positioned as objects of development and not involved as decision-makers, then the resulting policies will never truly understand their needs (equity). By stepping up as leaders and articulating their voices, women with disabilities can ensure that the "shoes" of policies designed by the state or organizations truly fit their stride.
Conclusion
Moving away from a rigid equality approach and shifting towards equity is an absolute prerequisite for creating an inclusive public space. The state, society, and organizations can no longer merely applaud and provide formal platforms; they must guarantee safe spaces and tangible accessibility support. True justice will only become meaningful when the diversity of identities and disability vulnerabilities are accommodated through fair and proportional policies. (DPM)
References:
- "National Webinar on Inclusive Women's Empowerment", YouTube Indonesian Blind Union (Pertuni).
- Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities.
- Bappenas, et al. (2021). Book Monitoring the Fulfillment of Disability Rights.