The belief that certain people, groups, or things are superior and deserve special privileges or power over others.
From French 'élite' (selected few, best), derived from Latin 'eligere' (to choose), plus the suffix '-ism' (system or practice). The word 'elitism' was coined in the 20th century as criticism of systems that privilege the 'elite.'
Elitism is fascinating because it's often invisible to those practicing it—people who believe in meritocracy might unknowingly practice elitism if they only recognize merit in ways that match their own background.
Elitism historically concentrated power among men, with 'eligible' male subjects receiving disproportionate institutional access. Women were systematically excluded from elite structures (higher education, professions, governance) through explicit policy rather than merit, reinforcing gendered hierarchies.
Discuss elitism in modern contexts without gendered assumptions, but recognize how women were historically locked out of 'merit-based' systems that were structurally rigged.
Women earned admission to previously elite institutions through persistent advocacy and legal challenge, not beneficence. Their presence forced recognition that prior 'standards' had measured only narrow male demographics.
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