The term “rankism” was coined by physicist, educator, and citizen diplomat Robert W. Fuller, author of Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank (2003).

Fuller defines rankism as “abusive, discriminatory, or exploitative behavior towards people because of their rank in a particular hierarchy,” and argues that rank-based abuse underlies many other phenomena such as bullying, racism, hazing, ageism, sexism, and homophobia.

To my mind, irankism helps to fuel “the system” and may in fact be the system’s primary driving force.

In the following talk, Fuller considers rankism’s evolutionary roots and asserts that we can overcome it by affirming “dignity for all.”