Equity

Often discussed in relationships, this is a situation in which people receive in proportion to what they give to the relationship. Equity does not have to be identical or exact. Consider, for example, household chores (this is a stereotypical example, but we use only to illustrate the point). A wife takes care of the entire house and asks only that the husband takes out the garbage twice a week and cut the lawn. However, the husband often forgets or ignores this responsibility and when confronted, he feels that he should not have to do these things since he "works hard all week long". As a result, both partied may perceive an inequity. She feels that she does ALL the chores and work while her husband is unwilling to contribute to their lives - he does much less than her; he feels that he must work in a high stress job all week and that being asked to do these chores is just too much - she does much less than him. Inequity leads to unhappy relationships and long term problems.