Synonyms
Definition
According to the 12th Edition Collins English Dictionary, equal opportunity is defined as “the offering of employment, pay, or promotion equally to all, without discrimination as to sex, race, colour, disability, etc.” (2014). This definition of equal opportunity focuses on economic inclusion and equality among people to promote shared prosperity. In addition to the monetary perspective, the equality of opportunity is a complex and contested concept in the field of political philosophy, often associated with the metaphors of “levelling the playing field” and “starting gate equality” (Anderson 1999; Rawls 2009; Roemer 2009). Furthermore, beyond that of political theory, the concept of equality of opportunity has been applied in various domains, including sociology, education, psychology, public health, and economics. Also, equal opportunity is often linked with antidiscrimination, fairness,...
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In addition to Olga Kuznetsova’s thorough editorial review, I am immensely grateful to Amrita Daniere, Scott Drinkall, and Shahin Rahman for their valuable insights that significantly improved the manuscript.
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Cai, Y. (2019). Opportunities for All: Inclusive and Equitable Sustainable Development. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A., Brandli, L., Özuyar, P., Wall, T. (eds) Sustainable Cities and Communities. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71061-7_83-1
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