Somebodies and Nobodies

by Fuller, Robert W.

• ISBN13: 9780865714878
• ISBN10: 0865714878
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: New Society Pub

Summary

When discrimination is race-based, we call it racism; when it's gender-based, we call it sexism. Somebodies and Nobodies introduces rank-based discrimination-or "rankism"-a form of injustice that everyone knows, but no one sees. It explains our reluctance to confront rankism, shows where analyses based on identity fall short and, using dozens of examples, traces many forms of injustice and unfairness to rankism. ". . . a wonderful and tremendously important book on the 'ism' that is far more encompassing than racism, sexism or ageism. 'Rankism' must be our prime target from now on in. Viva Fuller!"-Studs Terkel, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Working Robert Fuller served as president of Oberlin College and subsequently worked internationally as a "citizen diplomat." He lives in Berkeley, California.

Author Biography

Robert W. Fuller taught physics at Columbia University in New York. He later served as president of Oberlin College. A contributor to magazines in a wide range of disciplines, Fuller also served for many years as Board Chair of the nonprofit global corporation Internews, which promotes democracy and international understanding via free and independent media

Table of Contents

Note to the Reader	p. xix
A Disorder without a Name	p. 1
The Personal is Political
Rankism--Mother of "Isms"
Equal in Dignity
The Myth of Meritocracy
Democracy's Next Step
Uses and Abuses of Rank	p. 13
Why Rank Matters
Legitimate Uses of Rank
Pulling Rank
Three Vignettes
Kicking the Dog
Is Pulling Rank Human Nature?
The Toll of Rank Abuse	p. 25
On Personal Relationships
On Productivity
The Intel Example
On Learning
On Leadership
On Spirit
The Hunger for Recognition	p. 45
"And you are...?"
Recognition as Identity Food
Recognition Disorders
Somebodies and Nobodies--A Closer Look
Up and Down the Status Ladder
The Ins and Outs of Nobodyland
The Parade of Invisibles
The Somebody Mystique	p. 61
The Bricks and Mortar of Consensus
Why We Put Up With Abuses of Power
Nobody, Too
The Genesis of the Somebody Mystique
Deconstructing the Somebody Mystique	p. 77
The Function of Heroes
The Inside Story
About Genius
About Celebrity
About Fame
About Success
The Young Are Disenthralled
The Quest for Dignity	p. 93
The DNA of Democracy
Race, Gender, Age, ... Rank
On Naming Rank-Based Discrimination
Beyond Political Correctness
A Dignitarian Movement
King for a Day
The Anatomy of Disrespect	p. 105
The Democratization of Authority
Family: Kid to Person
Health: Patient to Client
Work: Employee to Partner
The Enron Example
Learning: Student to Learner
A Better Game than War: Ciphers to Citizens
National Security in the Twenty-First Century
How to Win Respect and Safeguard Dignity
The Nobody Revolution: Overcoming Rankism	p. 139
Nobodies' Liberation: A Joke or a Movement?
The Nobody Manifesto
The Invisibles Become Visible
Humor, Etiquette, and Golden Rules
Political Realignment
Liberte, Dignite, Egalite, Fraternite
Epilogue	p. 155
Elegy for Nobodies	p. 157
Epitaph for Nobodies	p. 158
Related Readings	p. 159
Acknowledgements	p. 175
Index	p. 179
About the Author	p. 187
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