If we had to define life, what would it be? What is our purpose? Why do we move forward and proceed, despite going into the unknown? In answering these questions, we are constantly in a state of fear to validate our existence.

“Racism, the belief of the inherent superiority of one race over all others and thereby the right to dominance. Sexism, the belief in the inherent superiority of one sex over the other and thereby the right to dominance. Ageism. Heterosexism. Elitism. Classism. (Lorde 115)” We begin to see a pattern in which Audre Lorde, author of the selection “Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Diference”, discusses the inherent need for human beings to separate and distinguish from one another. “As members of such an economy,” she writes, “we have all been programmed to respond to the human differences between us with fear and loathing and to handle that difference in one of three ways (Lorde 115).”

First, would be feigning ignorance. This applies in many ways as we often ignore problems that are not our own, disputes that would only inconvenience us, or simply the fear of backlash and ostracizing that incur as a result of attempted justice. Next, we have association. Our need to feel connected to society ultimately outweighs common sense and integrity; we tend to follow the most dominant opinions and popular trends despite the conflicting feelings and outrageous prices that come with it. Lastly, the use of degradation.

There are days when we feel as if nothing we do is ever good enough. Some brood over the question for days on end, not seemingly able to derive a conclusive answer. Others feel life will play out on its own, and gives the thought less importance. Then we have the very few, who begin to spiral down a path of depression and hate. Any sense of happiness reflected from others is now used as a weapon. Lies and rumors run through others ears and continues to spread like wildfire. Onlookers become unknowing culprits, ultimately ruining the lives of others to otherwise uphold and establish their own sense of being.

This does not apply to simply social constructs but the very foundation of our culture as established in our careers and entertainment industry. Particularly for women advancing into STEM careers, many male counterparts deem them to be impertinent to the field. As with the entertainment world, receiving approval is much harder; the notion that ‘women just aren’t as good as men’ is deeply rooted into the small-minded patriarchal society within the industry. Lorde continues to say, “It is our refusal to recognize those differences, and to examine those distortions which result from … their effects upon human behavior and expectation (115).”

Of course, with this definition, we might think that we are not this kind of person. But in truth, all of us are guilty of committing one of the three acts to some degree, we just like to think of ourselves as a better person.