If equity in Washington is about bridging opportunity gaps and reducing disparities, can equity efforts include concern for boys and men?
The legislature established the Washington State Office of Equity (OOE) under the Office of the Governor in 2020. The Office of Equity “promotes equitable access to opportunities and resources that reduce disparities across state government and improve outcomes statewide.”
Washington’s boys and men experience disparities, unequal outcomes, and inequitable access to opportunities and resources in certain ways. Many of our nearly 200 blog posts demonstrate this is the case.
Does Washington State’s conception of striving for equity include an interest in boys and men’s issues? If it does not currently, can it in the future?
“We will build relationships with agencies, communities, and lawmakers to reframe state government to work in a way that bridges opportunity gaps and reduces disparities and achieve equitable and just outcomes for everyone in Washington.” – Washington State Office of Equity
Equity for whom?
As of late 2023, the website of the Office of Equity listed nine population subgroups for which the Office was striving for equity. Women were one of the nine groups listed under the heading “We The People”, as seen below.
We would be remiss if we didn’t point out that the exclusion of boys and men under the “We The People” section of OOE’s website is an example of a phenomenon highlighted by Seattle psychologist and writer Valerie Tarico:
“In the advocacy space, there are places where we’re communicating to boys and men that they have no place in our aspirational future except as allies.”
Website revamped in 2024
A revamp of the Office of Equity’s website occurred sometime in 2024.
Today, for whatever reasons there is no longer a list of population subgroups on the website. There is, though, a list of what OOE calls determinants of equity (see below). All of the determinants of equity are non-gender-specific. This change to the Office of Equity’s website, in our view, has the effect of creating an opening for boys and men to be included.
Nothing in strategic plan excludes boys & men
What can we learn from the Office of Equity’s strategic plan about the potential for the State of Washington’s conception of equity to include concern for boys and men?
Like the new version of their website, there is nothing in OOE’s latest strategic plan that signals that disparities affecting women and girls shall be prioritized while disparities affecting boys and men shall not.
The 2024-2025 strategic plan quotes language adopted by the legislature that says inequities based on gender are “deep, pervasive, and persistent”:
The Legislature established the Washington State Office of Equity in April 2020. At that time, the Legislature found that:
- The population of Washington has become increasingly diverse over the last several decades.
- As the demographics of our state change, historically and currently marginalized communities still do not have the same opportunities as their nonmarginalized counterparts across nearly every measure. This includes education, wealth, employment, and health.
- Inequities based on race, ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics continue to be deep, pervasive, and persistent, and they come at great economic and social cost. (emphasis added) — pg. 4 Office of Equity 2024-2025 Strategic Plan
“Begin to dismantle racism by addressing root causes through bold systemic and cultural change and build structural fairness and belonging for individuals and groups that currently experience discrimination, racism, or multiple forms of oppression.” — ‘Our Process‘, Office of Equity
See also: Exonerations of imprisoned men in Washington and their 275 ‘lost years’
Gender equity can include boys and men’s issues
Washington is a caring and progressive state. We should be the first in the nation to extend our commitment to gender equity to include boys and men’s struggles. We should also pass pending bipartisan legislation that would create a state commission on boys and men (view the video for the grassroots campaign).
“Everyone in Washington has full access to the opportunities, power, and resources they need to flourish and achieve their full potential.” — vision statement, Office of Equity