de jure equality

[/də ˈjʊəri ɪˈkwɑːləti/]
noun
igualdade de jure
1. Equality established by law or legal statute; formal equality guaranteed through written legislation or constitutional provisions, regardless of actual implementation or practice
The constitution guarantees de jure equality for all citizens, but de facto inequality persists in education.
A constituição garante igualdade de jure para todos os cidadãos, mas a desigualdade de fato persiste na educação.
2. The principle that all individuals have equal rights and protections as defined in legal documents, though this may not reflect real-world conditions
De jure equality was established through the Civil Rights Act, though enforcement took decades.
A igualdade de jure foi estabelecida através da Lei dos Direitos Civis, embora sua aplicação tenha levado décadas.
This legal and political concept is frequently discussed in both Brazilian and American contexts regarding civil rights, racial equality, and gender equality. In Brazil, the distinction between de jure and de facto equality is particularly relevant when discussing constitutional protections versus socioeconomic disparities. In the USA, the term gained prominence during civil rights debates of the 1960s. The phrase highlights the gap between what laws promise and what society actually delivers.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
formal equalitylegal equalitystatutory equalityequality before the law
Antonyms / Antônimos
de facto inequalityde jure inequalityactual inequality

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
igualdade de jure
Standard academic and legal term used in Brazilian Portuguese discourse
São Paulo
igualdade de jure
Commonly used in legal and academic contexts
Rio de Janeiro
igualdade de jure
Standard usage in legal and political discussions
Portugal
igualdade de jure
Portuguese uses same term; emphasis on formal/legal dimension

Related Words

de facto equalitylegal rightsconstitutional protectionstatutory lawequal protection clausediscrimination

Related Idioms & Phrases

equality on paper
legal equality versus practical equality
rights in theory but not in practice
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