What is dignity? Is it a right or a perspective? It is both. The word “dignity” is overloaded and is the name of two unrelated concepts. The perspective is more about opinion of worthiness. The right is the foundation of what today is called Human Rights.

“…Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Dignity is a right to be respected based on the fact that you are a human being and not because you have attained a certain rank, status or level of privilege.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence uses this line to describe the principle of dignity. It was a hot topic during the Enlightenment, the period in which at least a couple of democracies were born based on those philosophical principles. The definition of “all men” has broadened since that time and now applies to “all members of the human family.”

If you wonder if someone may be impeding on someone else’s right to dignity, you could ask yourself these questions:
– Does it lessen their freedom or liberties?
– Does it take away rights?
– Is it fair and just?
– Does it take peace or happiness away from them and their families?
– Does it exclude them from the human family?

This is one type of dignity, which is more like someone’s feelings that they are worthy of respect. This is that usage’s definition.

Dignity: noun.
bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation ofthe formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.

“They may have taken my home away, my children away and my job away, but they’ll never take my dignity!”

And then there is the right to dignity, which can be taken away. The opposite of dignity is oppression. The definition of oppression that applies as the opposite of dignity is the following:

Oppression: noun.
the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

“They don’t deserve welfare!” (right to use govt programs)
“Gays shouldn’t be able to get married!” (right to happiness that doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s rights)
“Christians should have to serve whomever comes into their store!” (right to peace)
“They don’t deserve a wage above the poverty line!” (right to fair compensation)

Dignity is both a right and a perspective. But in the context of rights, it is the foundation of all other rights that form the total concept of inalienable rights.