Equality vs. Freedom in American Democracy and Society

John Locke and the Foundation of Equality

According to John Locke, whose views helped shape the values of the early American nation, equality is not just necessary in the establishment of government but is also a requisite in maintaining a safe and stable nation (Broers, 2009). Locke based his ideas on two general observations: first, that nature exhibits an ideal equality of opportunity even when there are differences between species or between individuals within each species. Equality does not mean sameness; it simply means the absence of "subordination or subjection," according to Locke (cited by Broers, 2009). The second observation Locke makes about equality as a state of natural law is that membership in a democratic society is considered voluntary. Contrary to totalitarian regimes such as that in North Korea, democracies are based on the rights of individuals to participate freely in the political process and make decisions based on shared values. Therefore, equality becomes the most fundamental principle in a democracy. Any time equality is threatened — such as by discrimination — the fabric of a democratic society begins to unravel.

Race, Gender, and Socioeconomic Inequality in America

Inequality has been manifest in the United States primarily with regard to classifications based on race and gender. Slavery and Jim Crow are examples of inequality based on race. Gender inequality is evident extensively — from the fact that women were not allowed to vote until relatively recently, to the reality that social, economic, and political institutions remain dominated by male decision-makers. It can even be argued that socioeconomic class status is not merely a cause of inequality but also one of its most visible manifestations. However, socioeconomic class does bear a meaningful relationship to race and gender in areas such as healthcare and education. Not all Americans have equal access to the same caliber of healthcare or education, which demonstrates that there are still areas of blatant injustice and inequality.

Freedom vs. Equality: A Democratic Paradox

Many Americans have come to prefer the value of "freedom" over the value of "equality," basing political, social, and economic policy more on the freedom to hold power over and subordinate others, rather than on the freedom for all citizens to exercise their rights. The result is a society with powerful and frustrating dichotomies that cannot be resolved through rational debate. Societies that value freedom over equality cease to be democracies, because in a democracy all citizens are by definition empowered to participate fully in all aspects of social life. Choosing not to participate is a right of citizens too, but no citizen should be barred from access to any right — from voting to achieving upward social mobility.

Being barred from rights is sometimes institutionalized or legalized, such as the ban on women voting that lasted until the 19th Amendment, or bans on same-sex marriage that existed in most states. However, being barred from access to rights is sometimes more subtle — as in the ways poor communities fail to provide their young people with the same opportunities afforded to wealthier communities in terms of policing, schools, and healthcare services. When a small group of people can establish norms and institutionalize values such as heteronormativity, the result is an unjust and inegalitarian society.

Conclusion: Toward a More Perfect Union

Although the voices of conservatives who champion patriarchy as a desirable and rightful social order can be loud and shrill, and are backed by considerable economic, social, and political power, there are still a large number of alternative voices that promote equality and social justice. The goal is to work toward achieving equality through the established pathways of law and civic order — which is why marriage equality was debated at the highest levels of government. Marriage equality symbolizes other forms of equality in the nation. During the Civil Rights movement, it was no accident that the push for Black civil rights coincided with the women's rights movement, Chicano rights, gay rights, and rights for Native Americans. When one group of oppressed people stands up to be counted as equals, that movement can inspire others to do the same.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself put it, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." All forms of inequality are unethical and contradictory to the tenets of a democratic society such as that of the United States. Gradually, Americans can chip away at the root causes of injustice and inequality in order to form a "more perfect union."

References

Broers, A. (2009). John Locke on equality, toleration, and the atheist exception. Student Pulse. Retrieved from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/75/john-locke-on-equality-toleration-and-the-atheist-exception

Dunn, J. (2012). Political equality. Retrieved from http://athensdialogues.chs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/athensdialogues.woa/wa/dist?dis=34

Marano, H. E. (2014, January 1). Love and power. Psychology Today. Retrieved from

McCabe, H. (2015). Equality. Philosophy Now. Retrieved from https://philosophynow.org/issues/94/Equality