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Social Hierarchy: Understanding Power, Identity, and You

You probably didn’t choose the family you were born into, the neighborhood you grew up in, or the body you inhabit. But all of those things — before you ever said a word or made a single decision — began shaping what your life would look like: who would trust you, what opportunities would find you, and how much you’d have to prove.

That’s the social hierarchy at work. And whether you’ve thought about it deeply or never considered it at all, it’s been shaping your world every single day.

Understanding social hierarchy and how power, privilege, and access show up in your own life is some of the most important and challenging work a person can do.

What Is Social Hierarchy?

Social hierarchy refers to the ranking of individuals or groups within a society based on factors such as race, gender, class, education, disability, sexual orientation, and more. These rankings often contribute significantly to determinations about who holds power, who has access to resources, and whose voice carries weight.

Researchers across disciplines have documented how these systems operate. According to the American Psychological Association, socioeconomic status affects not just financial security but mental and physical health outcomes, access to education, and exposure to chronic stress. Social hierarchies, in other words, are not abstract concepts; they have real, tangible consequences for people everywhere.

Another way scholars explain the persistence of social hierarchies is through what public health leader Dr. Gail C. Christopher calls a “hierarchy of human value.” This concept describes the long-standing belief — embedded in many cultures and institutions — that some groups of people are inherently more valuable than others. According to Christopher, these beliefs shape policies, cultural narratives, and social systems over time, influencing everything from economic opportunity to health outcomes.

When societies internalize these rankings, they often translate into unequal access to education, healthcare, housing, and political power. Understanding this deeper framework helps explain why social hierarchies can persist across generations, even as laws and norms evolve.

Understanding Privilege and Access to Opportunity

Few words in contemporary social discourse get more pushback than privilege. But stripped of its political charge, privilege simply means unearned advantages that certain people carry based on their membership in a dominant social group.

White privilege. Male privilege. Class privilege. Able-bodied privilege. These aren’t insults or accusations; they’re descriptions of how systems are structured to benefit some people while creating obstacles for others. Having privilege doesn’t mean your life has been easy. It means that certain specific hardships have not been yours to carry. The more we normalize this concept and are aware of it, the more we can change 

Sociologist Peggy McIntosh, whose groundbreaking 1989 essay “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” remains a foundational text in equity education, described privilege as an “invisible weightless knapsack” of unearned assets that privileged people can rely on each day. Decades later, her framework remains one of the most practical tools for understanding how power works at the personal level. Peggy McIntosh’s foundational work has given us the opportunity to continue “unpacking”. Dr. Natashia Lindsey continued to curate this “Knapsack”  with a Privilege Check List from 2020, and has given us more to unlearn. Dr. Natashia Lindsey is a scholar, lecturer, and performance artist whose work explores race, identity, and representation in theatre, while also engaging issues of gender, sexuality, and body liberation.

Key dimensions of privilege worth examining include:

  • Racial privilege: Who is presumed innocent, competent, or trustworthy by default? Whose pain is taken more seriously?
  • Gender privilege: Whose authority is questioned less? Who is seen as weak more often?
  • Class privilege: Who has access to networks, opportunities, and safety nets?
  • Ability privilege: Who does the built environment serve?
  • Educational privilege: Whose credentials open doors — and whose are overlooked?
  • Religious Privilege: Whose beliefs are considered normal – and recognized in policy and laws?
  • Neurotypical Privilege: Whose brain functions “normally” according to social standards?

Power, Access, and Why They Matter

Power isn’t just about politics or corporate boardrooms. It’s woven into everyday interactions, from who speaks and who listens to whose culture is centered, and whose is treated as “other”. Structural power refers to the ways institutions such as schools, courts, healthcare systems, and workplaces are built to advantage certain groups over others.

Access to quality education, healthcare, legal protection, capital, representation, and more is also directly tied to where a person sits within social hierarchies. Research has documented persistent racial wealth gaps that compound over generations, a direct result of policies and systems built on hierarchical foundations.

This is also where intersectionality becomes essential. Intersectionality is the understanding that people experience power and oppression through overlapping identities, not one at a time. A person may experience race, gender, disability, class, or sexuality simultaneously, and those combined realities affect how systems respond to them.

Legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term intersectionality to help explain how the law and public discourse often fail to account for people living at the crossroads of multiple forms of discrimination. Her work remains vital for anyone trying to understand why one-size-fits-all conversations about inequality so often fall short.

So, how do we move forward? The answer lies in understanding systems of power and access and making informed choices as a result.

The Inner Work: Why Self-Reflection Is Non-Negotiable

Here’s where it gets personal. Systemic change requires structural solutions, but it also requires individuals to look honestly at their own beliefs, behaviors, and blind spots. This is what’s often called inner work—or what Dr. Shawn Ginwright refers to as Mirror Work in his latest book, The Four Pivots—and it’s harder than it sounds.

Inner work involves asking and answering questions honestly, such as:

  • What assumptions do I carry about people who are different from me?
  • How has my social position shaped what I consider normal?
  • In what spaces do I hold power — and how am I using it?

 

Here at the (Un)Learning Space™, our programs are specifically designed to guide people through exactly this kind of reflection. Rooted in equity, justice, and transformative education, the (Un)Learning Space™ offers workshops and programming that move participants beyond surface-level diversity training into genuine identity exploration and community belonging. Whether you’re just beginning to examine your own social conditioning or you’re looking to go deeper, our programs meet you where you are and challenge you to grow.

This kind of reflection also requires attention to language. Specifically, human-centered language calls us to speak about people in ways that affirm dignity, connection, and shared humanity rather than reducing them to labels, deficits, or stereotypes. The words we choose can either reinforce hierarchy or help loosen its grip.

Moving From Awareness to Action

Understanding social hierarchy isn’t the end goal; it’s the beginning. Awareness without action can become its own form of comfort. Real equity work means using what you’ve learned to change your behavior, advocate within your sphere of influence, and support structural change.

That might mean amplifying marginalized voices, challenging a biased policy at work, or simply sitting with discomfort long enough to let it teach you something. In seasons like Women’s History Month, this kind of reflection can be especially meaningful as we honor the contributions, leadership, and resilience of women who have challenged unjust systems and expanded what equity can look like.

The world doesn’t change without people willing to take an honest look at their place in it.

The (Un)Learning Space™ offers thoughtfully designed programming for individuals and organizations ready to do the real work of equity and social justice education. From identity-based workshops to facilitated group sessions, our programs create the conditions for honest reflection, community building, and meaningful change. Support our work today to help us move toward a liberated self and world — a world where we all belong. And we also want to wish you a Happy Women’s History Month as we continue the shared work of building a more just and inclusive world.

CHARLES

Charles Andrean (he/him) is a facilitator and guide who roots himself in radical love, healing, and liberation. His gifts include being a space-maker, cycle-breaker, truth-teller, and nepantlera. Charles empowers people to center their own healing and care, remember their inherent worthiness, and show up for others with responsibility.

Charles works as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant and is invested in engaging on topics of race, masculinity, community, and accountability. Previously, he spent eight years working with sororities and fraternities, including time at Northwestern University and Iowa State University, where he created and launched initiatives on leadership and social justice. Charles was involved on the board for Lambda Phi Epsilon Asian-interest Fraternity for 10 years, which included having the opportunity to serve as the fraternity’s International President.

Charles completed his Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel at Southern Illinois University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Charles enjoys spending time with himself, writing, convening with trees, dancing, karaoke-ing, and being in honest, present connection with others.

JOSMER MACHADO

Josmer Machado is a dedicated advocate for social justice, deeply influenced by the challenges he has faced growing up in Venezuela. At 24, he has witnessed the harsh realities of political repression, corruption, and social inequality, experiences that have galvanized his commitment to making a positive impact. Josmer’s involvement in the political situation during Venezuela’s critical period in 2017 reinforced his belief in the power of collective action and the necessity for justice and equity in society.

His professional journey is shaped by this commitment. Over the past four years, Josmer has developed a strong foundation in multitasking and project management as a Virtual Assistant (VA), skills that are crucial in his current role, where he focuses on building partnerships and fostering collaboration. His experience in graphic design, though less formal, has been a source of personal pride, allowing him to express his creativity while contributing to meaningful causes.

For Josmer, branding is more than just a visual identity; it’s a reflection of an organization’s values and its dedication to its mission. He believes that an authentic brand is one that embodies the principles of social justice and inclusivity, aligning its actions with its core values to create lasting change. This holistic approach to branding is central to his work, making him a valuable asset in any project aimed at transformative impact.

BARBARA CALDERON

Bárbara Calderón is an enthusiastic organizer and administrative support specialist, always seeking ways to contribute to her team’s success. Originally from Venezuela, Bárbara combines her passion for order and efficiency with a deep love for community and the well-being of others.

In her current role, Bárbara supports various administrative functions that keep the workflow efficient and organized. Although she prefers not to focus on her specific tasks, her dedication to these activities is essential for the organization’s smooth operation.

Outside of work, Bárbara is a passionate cook and animal lover. She enjoys learning about mental health and loves reading self-help books, always seeking ways to improve and grow personally. Music is a significant part of her life, serving as a form of therapy and well-being. She also loves sunsets, cherishes love in all its forms, and always pays attention to the small details.

Committed to her own (Un)learning journey, Bárbara not only aims to improve her skills and knowledge but also to question and challenge any thoughts or behaviors rooted in our society.

LYDIA MERCER

Lydia is healing. She is finding and centering joy, focusing on reimagining self and systems to see the full dignity of all of humanity.

Throughout Lydia’s fifteen-year journey in education as a student, teacher, administrator and non-profit leader, she found herself challenged to design, reimagine, and change the systems she worked within. By examining oppression and it’s conditioning on herself and all whom she engaged, she encountered a collective trauma that stifles change and possibility. Through this journey, she found her path towards antiracism. Her lived-experience created a path where she began to actively resist injustice. Her current journey is now not solely focused on resistance but in freedom dreaming. Lydia is finding hope in the possibility of liberation of her own mind and body, and loves to support others on their journey. She founded The (Un)Learning Space as a converging of lived experience and soul’s purpose.

Lydia’s work is grounded in (un)learning her own racist trauma and supporting others as they examine and excavate the impact of oppression in their lives, the lives of others and the system in which we all engage. As a dynamic and holistic coach, educator, creator, facilitator, and trainer, Lydia engages with all she meets with compassion and love. She leads with equity, and inquiry. She is empathetic, and her way of being reflects care, especially during courageous conversations. She builds capacity through authentic relationships, and loves every part of this “work.” She has designed and facilitated numerous workshops to support antiracism. She facilitates racial healing circles, offers coaching sessions, and also supports organizations in decolonizing curriculum and resources so as to build cultural competency.

Lydia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Kansas (2005) and earned her Master’s Degree in Cultural Education and Social Policy from Loyola, Chicago (2010). She is a proud 2019 Surge Alum, and will forever be emerging! #Emergents

LESLIE BELLER

Leslie loves to spend her time at the intersection of vision and operations supporting the dreams and aspirations of others in the community. She started the pathfinding group Fresh Utopias to create a safe space for visionary leaders to foster creative ideas outside the oppressive forces of white supremacy nonprofit thinking. Her career has spanned youth development, workforce development, college and career readiness, skills development and anti-discrimination. She is passionate about using movement building and community organizing to build strategic operating models that bring revolutionary visions into real world sustainability. Leslie is committed to her own Unlearning journey and never stops questioning how her thinking and being may be rooted white supremacy.

TIFFANY NWANKPA

Tiffany is a creative thinker and innovative thought partner with an aptitude for tapping into brand DNA and connecting it to culture to bring forth a cohesive and purposeful brand voice.

With a love for creating and curating beautiful things, Tiffany received her Bachelor of Science in Design and Merchandising from Auburn University. After over a decade in the Brand Management space, Tiffany pivoted to copywriting and editing, utilizing her unique ability to capture the light within an organization to give rise to more purposeful and aligned forms of communication.

You’ll often find Tiffany scouring interior design pages with HGTV as the soundtrack, creating her lane in these toddler parenting streets (send help!), and perusing the “innanets” to see what Black Twitter is on today.

Tiffany’s passion for motivating and supporting people on their journey to wholeness, a shame-free existence, and living their best life has given inspiration to her personal journey to liberation as she answers each call to service along the way.

CECILY LANGFORD

Cecily Langford is a seeker and creator of intentional communities and soul connections. Cecily has worked as a middle- and high school educator and administrator in Chicago Public Schools for the past 22 years. Most recently she served as Assistant Principal on the southwest side of Chicago where she worked to create spaces for kids to dream and actualize their purpose. Before that, Cecily grew up in Evanston and as a half-Colombian girl became fascinated by the black/white binary that comprised her schooling experience in the 80’s. She is a mother of three and enjoys nature, people, cycling, practicing speaking Spanish, hiking, yoga, raising hell, creating, running, and singing loudly. Cecily dreams daily of what black and brown unity in Chicago could do to shift our city and improve life outcomes for the communities she loves.

NAOMI WILFRED

Naomi Wilfred is a visionary, a dreamer and a disruptor. A Boston-born transplant turned proud Chicagoan that moved here with a vision of disrupting the world of education. Over the past 10 years she has done just that while wearing multiple hats. During her tenure with Chicago Public Schools, she created and designed for a number of grade levels and subject areas; specializing on how to strategically meet the needs of her students. Throughout her journey, one thing has remained the same; healing-centered classroom and school spaces can lead to true liberation. She understands the education system has not been designed to affirm young people or teachers; especially those that are a part of marginalized groups. She has used the precious time in her classroom to provide identity-centered and relevant learning spaces. Teaching herself and students that they are more than enough. She is a strong believer in understanding how our experiences have impacted the way we navigate the world. Most recently she has engaged in education consulting work that includes but is not limited to coaching, curriculum writing, and leading professional development.

She is a part of a blended family unit which consists of a total of 14 kids that range from 7-44 years old. Her mother, who has been an educator for close to 40 years is one of her biggest inspirations because she has dedicated her life to empowering her family and countless students. She loves to travel, read, bike, and attend concerts/festivals. She can make a great cocktail as well. Lastly, an avid sports fan who may have torn allegiances when it comes to professional teams, but loves her Kansas Jayhawks! Don’t be surprised if you catch her singing or quoting lines from The Office!

WALLACE GRACE

Wallace is currently a Doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Alongside PhD-ing, Wallace works as an education designer, innovator and researcher on issues related to learning and development, flourishing, well-being, relationships and belongingness in educational contexts around the country. Wallace has worked in education for almost fifteen years in a variety of capacities, including as an educator, researcher and designer, as well as district-level roles in DC Public Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools and Pittsburgh Public Schools. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his partner. In his free time, Wallace enjoys beautifying his backyard, reading, building legos, planting and photography.

NATASHIA LINDSEY

Natashia Lindsey is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and faculty associate in Africana and Black Studies at Central Washington University. An interdisciplinary scholar, her work often focuses on the many intersections of race and performance including racial performativity and the unmasking and dismantling of whiteness and white supremacy. She co-facilitates a white caucus for faculty, staff, and administrators at CWU titled “White Bodies, Antiracist Praxis” and she is the vice-chair of Recognition, Equity, and Diversity (RED) for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), Region VII.

She is also a fat activist and works to eradicate fatphobia in the field of theatre. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin’s Performance as Public Practice program and a M.A. and B.S. in Pan-African Studies from the University of Louisville.

SARAH NGOH

Sarah approaches her antiracist work with a beautiful mix of scholarly research and theory, and practical, grounded, and relevant lived experience. This lived experience has allowed her to center her knowledge in real examples of oppression, as well as authentic experiences of healing and justice. Sarah is an activist who doesn’t take herself too seriously, yet carries the heavy weight of the work she does with love and care – not only for herself, but for those with whom she works.

Sarah has a gregarious – sometimes startling – laugh that brightens any space! She loves to dress to the “nines” and is creative in all aspects of her being. She is an entrepreneur and designs one-of-a-kind jewelry “for the culture.” She is the mother to three beautiful humans, and has learned more about herself and life from motherhood than probably anything else. Sarah is striving to thrive and to live a life of love, liberation, and light because she deserves it.

In addition to her work here at the (Un)Learning Space, Sarah is a professor of English at the University of Kansas, where she utilizes hip hop pedagogy to teach composition. Sarah is also a 2022-2023 Mellon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Teaching Scholar.

VENICE WILLIAMS

Venice Williams is a creative innovator and critical thinker who, in 2020, decided to leave her career in the traditional education sector to pursue her passions. Now living in Costa Rica, she enjoys language learning, cultural immersion, coaching, and facilitating different methods of healing and well-being. Venice is dedicated to advocating for and guiding others on their healing and well-being journeys by sharing her lived experiences. She aims to dismantle stereotypes, replacing them with knowledge, understanding, and an appreciation for preserving cultural heritage. Her altruistic energy and outgoing personality inspires everyone she meets, fueling OR fostering authentic, intentional relationships. In her spare time, Venice enjoys taking pictures, storytelling, exploring Costa Rica and other Latin American countries, creating playlists, writing, curating experiences, and simply being.

AYANNA CARRINGTON

Ayanna is a Virtual Project Manager and Assistant as well as the Founder and CEO of Your Project Board. With close to a decade of experience in corporate settings, in both small and large firms, Ayanna took her expertise and talents to support and help streamline small businesses.

Using her proactive approach and well versed skill set, Ayanna aims to help clients and partners effectively exceed their goals. She not only supports clients to exceed their goals, she does so with love, patience and flexibility. Ayanna works with a naturally equitable lens ensuring that the organizations she supports feel heard and that they know that their work – and who they are – matter.