> Isn't that one and the same?

What if they are the same. Is that really an issue? Poor children get a "Free Pass" or (preferential treatment) by going to school for free. Seems like the right thing to do to me because their experience should not be decided by factors they can't control (in this case the financial situation they were born in). Same with gender "Free Passes" if one accepts the premise that it is a disadvantage to be born a woman and want to make it in STEM. If one does not believe that (meaning they were not convinced by the evidence), then that's another discussion and the debate is open.

I take free pass to imply you don't have to do anything. Preferential treatment is more like - this person is good enough to do the job and do it well, and they have a background we want to support so that's an extra positive.

I was once passed over for a job, and I somewhat knew the female candidate who got it. We were equally qualified, and I may have been slightly more experienced. I think it's likely that was preferential treatment (I could be wrong, maybe they just liked her more, maybe it was arbitrary). I think that's awesome. I most definitely wouldn't call it a free pass.