Equality of Opportunity: Pro et Contra

Equality of opportunity has been one of the most important social ideals associated with contemporary societies. In fact, no single idea has arguably had a more profound impact on the overall fairness of the distribution of advantaged social positions or the attainment of a particular social good in spheres of life as diverse as education, employment, health care, housing, etc. At the same time, its promise of fairness and the progressive idealism emanating from it have fueled some of the major social movements and institutional reforms related to antidiscrimination, desegregation, gender equality, equity, and inclusion. Nevertheless, equality of opportunity is far from straightforward or uncontroversial. To complicate things further, several of its most well-known conceptions advocate a plethora of diversified or even conflicting commitments. Both advocates and critics alike therefore face an unlikely challenge of how to make sense of this important social ideal. This chapter outlines some of the most distinctive contemporary tensions, problems, and challenges (as well as other complications) equality of opportunity has been associated with.