Rankism Rankles
by DIGDIJanuary 4, 2006
"Rankism Rankles."
"I would have fought Rankism, but my boss wouldn't let me."
"The fact that you make more doesn't mean you're worth more."
If you ever see these phrases on a car bumper, then you have BookCrossing.com and The Dignitarian Dialogues to thank.
These are just a few of the suggested bumper sticker slogans BookCrossing.com members posted on the BookCrossing.com forums in response to reading Somebodies and Nobodies - Overcoming the Abuse of Rank by Robert W. Fuller. Fuller's book explores the problem of "rankism" (abuse or discrimination based on rank), and how it negatively affects democracy. The book is a call to action to create a dignitarian society, where all people are treated with respect, no matter what their social status.
A record 20,000 copies of Fuller's book were given away through BookCrossing.com as part of a joint campaign by BookCrossing.com and The Dignitarian Dialogues, a project of the Harnisch Family Foundation. The last shipment of 3,500 free books started delivery in October 2005, marking the end of a year-long promotion that began in October 2004.
The purpose of the campaign was to increase public recognition of the problem of rankism and to promote the dignitarian movement to honor the dignity of all people, regardless of rank. Fuller contends that all negative "isms," including racism and sexism, are actually subsets of the "granddaddy" of isms: rankism. By shifting our perceptions to become aware of rankism, we can help eradicate injustice in its many guises.
One goal of the campaign was to create a space for dialogue and discussion of these issues, in hopes of inspiring awareness and action. While not everyone has fallen in love with the book - Ruth Ann Harnisch, President of the Harnisch Family Foundation, says humorously that "the most repetitive complaint is that the book is repetitive" - Somebodies and Nobodies still seems to stir ideas and passion in its readers. And many readers have been quite moved.
"I once thought that racism was what was killing progress in the USA.
Now I understand that it is rankism," writes BookCrossing.com member Woodson, from Killeen, Texas, in his review. "Today, I find myself trying to spot rankism rather than racism. I believe that rankism does more harm than any of the other isms."
Caridad, from Bay Shore, New York, comments in her review: "I thought this book was amazing! I have had jobs in "Nobody" (dishwasher, candy striper, sales clerk, waitress, etc.) & "Somebody" (administrative, management, EEO Counselor, union representative, etc.), and the points made about the treatment of people in these areas was so valid based on my own personal life experiences...I also learned the way rankism works in competitive work places, but could never identify with an expression for it until I read this book."
One of the goals of The Dignitarian Dialogues project is secure placement of the words "rankism" and "dignitarian" into dictionaries, thus solidifying these concepts as part of the lexicon. The Dignitarian Dialogues website defines rankism (n) as "abuse, discrimination, or exploitation based on rank" or "abusive, discriminatory, or exploitative behavior towards people who have less power because of their lower rank in a particular hierarchy." A dignitarian (n) is one who protects the dignity of others; dignitarian can also be used as an adjective.
Work continues by the team at The Dignitarian Dialogues to capture articles and commentary about "Somebodies and Nobodies" to support the dictionary initiative. The more media and cultural mentions a word has, the more likely a dictionary editor will include the term.
Since the project began, copies of Somebodies and Nobodies have traveled across the United States and to other parts of the world, including England, France, Germany, Pakistan, and Australia. Thousands of copies of Somebodies and Nobodies are now out "in the wild,"
spreading the word, thanks to BookCrossing.com. The discussion also continues in the BookCrossing Somebodies and Nobodies Forum.
"I would have fought Rankism, but my boss wouldn't let me."
"The fact that you make more doesn't mean you're worth more."
If you ever see these phrases on a car bumper, then you have BookCrossing.com and The Dignitarian Dialogues to thank.
These are just a few of the suggested bumper sticker slogans BookCrossing.com members posted on the BookCrossing.com forums in response to reading Somebodies and Nobodies - Overcoming the Abuse of Rank by Robert W. Fuller. Fuller's book explores the problem of "rankism" (abuse or discrimination based on rank), and how it negatively affects democracy. The book is a call to action to create a dignitarian society, where all people are treated with respect, no matter what their social status.
A record 20,000 copies of Fuller's book were given away through BookCrossing.com as part of a joint campaign by BookCrossing.com and The Dignitarian Dialogues, a project of the Harnisch Family Foundation. The last shipment of 3,500 free books started delivery in October 2005, marking the end of a year-long promotion that began in October 2004.
The purpose of the campaign was to increase public recognition of the problem of rankism and to promote the dignitarian movement to honor the dignity of all people, regardless of rank. Fuller contends that all negative "isms," including racism and sexism, are actually subsets of the "granddaddy" of isms: rankism. By shifting our perceptions to become aware of rankism, we can help eradicate injustice in its many guises.
One goal of the campaign was to create a space for dialogue and discussion of these issues, in hopes of inspiring awareness and action. While not everyone has fallen in love with the book - Ruth Ann Harnisch, President of the Harnisch Family Foundation, says humorously that "the most repetitive complaint is that the book is repetitive" - Somebodies and Nobodies still seems to stir ideas and passion in its readers. And many readers have been quite moved.
"I once thought that racism was what was killing progress in the USA.
Now I understand that it is rankism," writes BookCrossing.com member Woodson, from Killeen, Texas, in his review. "Today, I find myself trying to spot rankism rather than racism. I believe that rankism does more harm than any of the other isms."
Caridad, from Bay Shore, New York, comments in her review: "I thought this book was amazing! I have had jobs in "Nobody" (dishwasher, candy striper, sales clerk, waitress, etc.) & "Somebody" (administrative, management, EEO Counselor, union representative, etc.), and the points made about the treatment of people in these areas was so valid based on my own personal life experiences...I also learned the way rankism works in competitive work places, but could never identify with an expression for it until I read this book."
One of the goals of The Dignitarian Dialogues project is secure placement of the words "rankism" and "dignitarian" into dictionaries, thus solidifying these concepts as part of the lexicon. The Dignitarian Dialogues website defines rankism (n) as "abuse, discrimination, or exploitation based on rank" or "abusive, discriminatory, or exploitative behavior towards people who have less power because of their lower rank in a particular hierarchy." A dignitarian (n) is one who protects the dignity of others; dignitarian can also be used as an adjective.
Work continues by the team at The Dignitarian Dialogues to capture articles and commentary about "Somebodies and Nobodies" to support the dictionary initiative. The more media and cultural mentions a word has, the more likely a dictionary editor will include the term.
Since the project began, copies of Somebodies and Nobodies have traveled across the United States and to other parts of the world, including England, France, Germany, Pakistan, and Australia. Thousands of copies of Somebodies and Nobodies are now out "in the wild,"
spreading the word, thanks to BookCrossing.com. The discussion also continues in the BookCrossing Somebodies and Nobodies Forum.
