The term rankism first appeared in print in theOberlin Alumni Magazine for fall of 1997.[3] It later appeared in a book calledSomebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank, written by Fuller and published in 2003.[4]
Other notable references of rankism include Fuller's second book on the subject,All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity,[6] and an action-oriented guide titledDignity for All: How to Create a World Without Rankism.[7]
The Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (Human DHS) network has also accepted the concept of rankism as core to its mission. It asserts, "...the mission we have undertaken at Human DHS is the confrontation of abuse, rankism and the humiliation endemic to it, on the historical scale."[8]
Professional mediator Julia Ann Wambach uses Fuller's definition of rankism to explore the abuse of position within a hierarchy from both up and down the lines of power, including how rankism feeds on itself in group contexts.[9]
According to Fuller, the abuse of rank is experienced by victims as an affront to theirdignity.[10] Fuller and his supporters have launched a newsocial movement to promote the creation of a dignitarian society. The Dignity Movement's goal is to overcome rankism in the same way that thecivil rights movement andwomen's movements target racism and sexism.
^Fuller, Robert W.; Pamela A. Gerloff (2008).Dignity for All: How to Create a World Without Rankism. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. back cover.ISBN978-1-57675-789-5.
Canadian Living – Diana Fisher, "Rankism: Bullying someone of a lower rank at work"
Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies – an organization composed of over one thousand academics and practitioners from around the globe dedicated to confronting humiliation
Right-Rank.comArchived 2006-06-14 at theWayback Machine – Right-rank is the use of communication skills by anyone within a hierarchy to promote respect for the dignity of everyone regardless of position.
SomebodyBook.com –I Feel Like Nobody When... I Feel Like a Somebody When... (children's book that introduces issues related to rankism), Stephanie Heuer (2005)
YubaNet.com – '"Executive" monkeys influenced by other executives, not subordinates',Duke University Medical Center (March 22, 2006)
