Valentina ally video from TikTok as a pop culture reference.
Ally: to unite or form a connection or relation between
Folks who support a marginalized community may refer to themselves as an ally. While allies are important to the advancement of equitable reform, at times, allyship can be hollow and self-proclaimed with little action or follow-through. Self-proclaiming as an ally is often done to make a person with a privileged identity feel good about themself without holding them accountable to support people with marginalized identities. Allyship as a feel-good title does not address the unjust systems that disadvantage other identities. To earn the title of an ally, you need to take action, even when doing so is difficult.
Marginalized communities face additional obstacles and barriers in order to live authentically in tandem with mainstream culture. Allyship is not something dominant identity folks should claim, it’s something marginalized communities should bestow. Allyship without action is not beneficial to marginalized communities. Some activists have started to use the term “accomplice” because it implies that action is necessary to truly support marginalized communities.
Being an ally is prioritizing the humanity of marginalized communities over your desire to be likable. To be an ally means that some people will not like you because challenging societal norms is difficult. And for many, rocking the boat and causing conflict is not something that comes easy. Being an ally includes speaking out against processes and behaviors that marginalize and denigrate people within specific communities. It means using your social currency for good. Something that is integral because oftentimes people with privileged identities are heard differently and scrutinized less harshly for their advocacy than people who hold a marginalized identity that they are advocating for.
Examples of what allyship looks like:
- Speaking out in the workplace about homophobic policies/practices
- A student confronting their friends when they mock someone’s accent or culture
- A student confronting a peer who purposefully misgenders someone living in their community
- Holding yourself accountable when you make a mistake and not expecting praise from the marginalized group you are seeking to support
Allyship is different than caring about other people who have different identities than you. Being an ally should challenge you to be uncomfortable and you should take tangible actions to support other people with marginalized identities. If you self-identify as an ally, take some time to evaluate how your actions align with the identity of an ally.
If you are engaging in allyship with communities, you need to do so thoughtfully. While it is important to speak up and out against injustice, it is equally important to be aware that you are not speaking over or for another person. The best way you can advocate for a community is by magnifying the voices of leaders within the community. You do not need to speak for an identity group that you don’t possess. This can be difficult and is often very nuanced. We wanted to provide an example below to help people conceptualize this if you are struggling. Keep in mind that in allyship and social justice work in general, you are going to make mistakes, and that’s okay. Own up to them and do better. We are all consistently learning and working to do and be better.
Example of allyship: if you observe peers experiencing challenges with class accessibility (e.g., lack of captioning or other accommodations), you could work with faculty to help improve those conditions.
Reflection Questions
- What were some examples you have experienced or observed as allyship?
- Think back to a time when someone showed up as an ally for you. How did that make you feel? How can you show up in these ways for others?
- What are some ways that you can engage in allyship with communities?
- What are actionable goals that you’d like to achieve as an ally?
Upcoming Dates and Observations
- 11/13/2024 – 11/19/2024: Transgender Awareness Week – the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, in which people and organizations participate to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community.
- 11/15/2024: Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday (Guru Nanak Jayanti) (Sikh) – a very important holiday in the Sikh faith as Guru Nanak Dev’s was the First Guru of the Sikhs and the Founder of Sikhism. He was born in mid-November; the holiday is celebrated according to the lunar date.
- 11/15/2024 – 12/4/2024: Nativity Fast (Eastern Christian) – a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus.
- 11/16/2024: International Day for Tolerance – Emphasizes the dangers of intolerance and is a call to action for the advancement of human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as a day to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures and peoples.
- 11/18/2024 – 11/20/2024: American Education Week – Celebrates public education and honors individuals who are making a difference in ensuring every child in the U. S. receives a quality education.