Becky sat on the edge of her chair and comfortably laid against the back. Public speeches didn’t make her anxious at all, she had slept few hours and most people, honestly, were so bad at this it actually made it quite hard for her to keep her eyes open. Erin’s words seemed to drift further away every second and flow in a disorganized, confused manner. Only the teacher’s words could actually wake her up a bit, and from them she could tell her roommate wasn’t doing very well. Forgiveness she thought, just as Erin walked back to her seat What a notion
Rebecca didn’t need a lot of time to prepare her speech. The words on the paper created a wide smile on Becky’s lips. What bittersweet word, hierarchy. She wanted to say it over and over again. Hierarchy. She trusted deeply in hierarchy, she adored it. But it seemed to disappoint her so much it almost felt like she was being unrequited love, honestly.
As she made her was to the podium, she knew people would pay attention. She didn’t need humor or appeal in her speech, she just needed to say whatever it was she meant to, straight forward. People would stare anyway.
"Good morning everyone. I’ll be talking about how the hierarchies of the past reflect today. I believe, however, differing hierarchies as a thing of the past or present is a misconception. If anything, hierarchies have changed names and became broader, but the hierarchic structures from hundreds of years ago repeat themselves today. Before the Industrial Revolution,hierarchies were limited to feudal structures and the systems inside the clergy and nobility, however, the growth of capitalism generated a greater segregation between members of the same consignment social class, within the bourgeoisie, within the proletariat. The hierarchies infiltrate even within non-governmental establishments, hospitals, large companies ... schools. Hierarchies grow. And there is a reason for that."
She could feel the student’s interest peaking. They knew what she was talking about. They wanted to hear about nobility, directly from royal Sayre herself. But undeniable, some of the eyes turned to Nina, and that made Becky’s next three or four words sound slightly, almost unnoticeably weaker, less confident then the rest.
"In our society, where capitalism and meritocracy are the basis of the greatest achievements, the hierarchy is a clear way to separate those who are privileged and can also influence the social climbing of others from those who conform to their lower position and limit themselves to criticizing those in position of greater power, with our actually trying to occupy these positions themselves, positions that, while accompanied by privilege, also come with great responsibilities and effort. Hierarchies are effective and practical.
By studying the German political tendencies between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Max Weber noted that efficient governments would have to be moved by a strong and efficient bureaucracy and a leadership that establishes the paths of political agents. New paths. This clear separation is beneficial for everyone, you see?"
They didn’t. She could see it in they’re faces, like it was written there. Students were either ogling her in a way she knew all too well or staring, completely befuddled.
"Thus, the reflection and the expansion of old hierarchies today is essential for greater organization and social justice. Hierarchy ensures that the deserving are the privileged. The hardworking are the powerful. Hierarchy rewards effort."
The words lingered on her lips for a moment, and Rebecca stood in the podium, her face completely expressionless, while she pondered about her own words. Then, a perfectly bight, polite smile appeared. ”Thank you for your time!”
Then, as if she had merely introduced herself in the first day of class, she slowly made her way back to her seat and crossed her legs under the table before gently placing her hair on her shoulder so she could play with it. But her exterior was far from telling. She felt a hot, irritating sensation on her chest, her vision was hazy and her body felt heavy. What couldn’t people see? How had she been failing?