Equality vs. Equity: Which One Does Your Relationship Actually Need?

A listener emailed Leah with a question straight from the middle of a relationship argument: what's the difference between equality and equity and which one should we actually be striving for? In this episode of MissPerceived, Professor Leah Ruppanner breaks down one of sociology's most important distinctions and brings it all the way home, literally. From time-use research and the mental load to leisure time, burnout, and the economy of gratitude, Leah explains why your relationship probably needs both equality and equity, why getting stuck in only one is a trap, and why giving endlessly to everyone else while putting yourself last isn't equity: it's gaslighting yourself.Chapters:00:00 Introduction — a listener question sparks the episode01:00 What is equality? Access, time use, and equal divisions of labor03:00 Time-based equality in relationships — tracking who does what04:08 Why time as a measure of productivity is becoming less useful in the AI age06:21 The mental load and equality — what Drained adds to the picture07:30 What is equity? Giving more to those who need more08:39 The economy of gratitude — how households naturally use equity09:30 Why mothers get stuck in the equity mindset and burn out10:53 Equity without equality is gaslighting — and it needs to stop11:30 How to undulate between equity and equality in your relationship12:30 Kate Mangino: relationships balance out over time — but only if you're conscious of it13:23 Brian Page and Modern Husbands: equal leisure time as a key equality measure14:30 The beautiful cycle: inequality → equity → equality → repeat15:29 Share your experience — Leah wants to hear what's working for youFollow Leah: @prof.leahruppanner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.