Short answers, pulled from the story.
Social equality is not about making everyone the same, but about ensuring that no individual is denied rights, liberties, or status based on their identity. This state of affairs requires the absence of legally enforced social class or caste boundaries, alongside the elimination of discrimination motivated by inalienable parts of an individual's identity.
The concept developed as a practicable element of society in Europe during the Reformation, when traditional religious hierarchies were challenged. Social equality was further redefined through the secular and rational philosophies that emerged during The Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th century.
The Seneca Falls Convention occurred in 1848 and marked the beginning of the Women's Suffrage Movements from 1848 to the 1900s. This event secured women's right to vote and expanded civic equality, culminating in victories in Britain and beyond.
The Meiji Reforms in Japan from 1868 to 1912 abolished feudal hierarchies and introduced legal equality among citizens. This process modernized Japanese society and challenged the traditional social order.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is legislation that prohibits discrimination in government services, employment, and any public accommodations. This law protects the rights of disabled people and ensures equal access, legal protections, and inclusion.
The contemporary notion of social equality was developed in the 20th century by political philosophers such as John Rawls, Ronald Dworkin, and Amartya Sen. These thinkers defined equality through primary goods, responsibility, and the capability to function.