Rankism refers to abuse and discrimination based on power differences between being a 'somebody' and a 'nobody'.

• A. Power differences of social class.
• B. Rankism
• C. Ethnic antagonism.
• D. Gender bias.

Answer: (B)

Rankism is about abuse and discrimination that arise from power differences within a social or organizational hierarchy—the gap between someone seen as a “Somebody” and someone labeled a “Nobody.” The statement nails this idea by focusing on mistreatment grounded in who holds status rather than any specific trait. It highlights how dignity can be denied simply because of one’s position in the rank order, not because of inherent characteristics. This concept helps explain why people in higher positions might demean or exclude those lower in rank as a way to reinforce status. While power differences related to class, ethnicity, or gender are real forms of bias, rankism centers on the dynamics of status and rank itself, and how those dynamics can be used to justify mistreatment. A clear example is a supervisor who belittles a junior employee to assert their higher status, illustrating rankism in action.