Introduction: The 4D Process and Its Historical Roots

The speaker is describing a deeply ingrained, strategic approach used to silence, disempower, and ultimately destroy individuals, particularly women, who challenge societal norms or fight for equality. The “4D” process—Dismiss, Discredit, Demonize, Destroy—is a pattern of behavior that has been used for centuries to dismiss valid concerns, undermine efforts, and silence voices of resistance, often through targeted tactics that paint the individual as a threat or a problem.

The speaker highlights how this strategy, particularly in its application to women, is perfected and carried out by those in power to maintain control. This process has been honed over centuries, serving as a powerful tool for enforcing gender roles, silencing dissent, and perpetuating patriarchal systems.

The First D: Dismiss

The first step in the “4D” strategy is dismissal. When someone, particularly a woman, speaks up or challenges the status quo, the immediate response from those in power is to ignore or dismiss their concerns. This is done in a way that invalidates the individual’s experience and reduces their argument to something unworthy of serious consideration.

• “They dismiss you.”: The first reaction to anyone challenging the system or speaking out against injustice is to make their concerns appear trivial or irrelevant. This is often a subtle, dismissive gesture, where the person or their argument is reduced to “just a phase” or something that will pass with time.
• “It was perfected on women hundreds of years ago.”: This statement acknowledges the historical roots of this tactic. Women, especially throughout history, have often been dismissed simply for speaking their minds or advocating for themselves. This pattern of dismissing women’s voices has been institutionalized and normalized.

The Second D: Discredit

When dismissal fails, the next strategy is to discredit the individual. The goal is to undermine their credibility, making them seem untrustworthy or incapable of rational thought. This can be done through a variety of methods, including questioning their motives, intelligence, or even their emotional stability.

• “Then they discredit you.”: This stage is about creating doubt. The individual is presented as unreliable or irrational. Their arguments are framed as baseless or motivated by personal grievances, making it easier to ignore their points and render them ineffective.
• “You get a little upset about being dismissed, and they say, ‘Oh, look at that.’”: This line demonstrates how the response to being dismissed—anger, frustration, or increased volume—can be used against the person. Rather than recognizing the legitimacy of their concern, their emotional reaction becomes part of the narrative to discredit them.

The Third D: Demonize

Once dismissal and discrediting tactics no longer work, the next step in the process is demonization. Here, the individual is portrayed as a villain or a threat, using negative stereotypes or moral judgments to paint them as dangerous or immoral. This tactic is often aimed at reinforcing societal norms and making sure the individual or their message is seen as a disruption to the established order.

• “They demonize you.”: At this stage, the individual is framed as morally corrupt or fundamentally wrong. This could involve labeling them as “radical,” “unstable,” “difficult,” or “dangerous.” The person is portrayed as someone whose ideas, if allowed to thrive, will lead to chaos or societal breakdown.
• “They have to move on to that third D to get right with their Christian selves.”: This phrase suggests that demonization is often done under the guise of moral or ethical superiority. It’s a way of justifying the mistreatment of the individual by casting them as fundamentally flawed or in need of correction.

The Fourth D: Destroy

The final step in the 4D process is destruction. By now, the individual has been thoroughly discredited and demonized, leaving them vulnerable to being destroyed—whether through social, professional, or personal means. The destruction is often a culmination of the previous tactics, where the person is reduced to a non-entity or erased from the conversation entirely.

• “Once they hit that third D and demonize you, they have a green light to go to that inevitable fourth D—destroy.”: At this point, the individual has been systematically dismantled in public perception. They have no defense left against the attacks, and the final blow is dealt. This could involve professional ruin, social isolation, or even legal or physical destruction.
• “Destroy.”: The word here is final and absolute. The individual is removed from the conversation, their reputation shattered, their efforts nullified. In many cases, this is the last stage in which the individual is fully erased, often leaving no space for recovery or redemption.

The Historical Context and Gendered Implications

This “4D” process, although applicable to anyone who challenges the established order, has been particularly effective against women, especially those who rise to prominence, challenge patriarchy, or fight for their rights. Women, throughout history, have often been relegated to passive, subordinate roles, and their contributions to society have been minimized or ignored. When a woman breaks out of that mold, the system reacts fiercely to suppress her.

• “It was perfected on women hundreds of years ago.”: This statement highlights the deep-rooted gender dynamics that have existed for centuries. Women have long been marginalized, their voices and agency diminished. As a result, this four-step process has been historically fine-tuned to silence them and maintain patriarchal control.

Conclusion: The Need for Awareness and Resistance

The 4D strategy is an insidious and effective method of control that has been used throughout history to maintain power dynamics and suppress dissent. Recognizing this pattern is crucial for anyone seeking to challenge oppressive systems, whether they are advocating for women’s rights, racial justice, or any other form of societal change.

Understanding the 4D process helps in preparing for the inevitable resistance that will come when one challenges the status quo. It also serves as a reminder to be aware of the tactics used to undermine those who stand up for themselves or for marginalized communities. This awareness is the first step toward resilience and eventual triumph over the forces that seek to dismiss, discredit, demonize, and destroy.

In the end, the 4D strategy represents a powerful tool of social manipulation—but it also represents an opportunity for those who fight against it to understand the battle they are engaged in and find ways to resist, persist, and ultimately break free from the cycle of suppression.