"Allyship is an English-language neologism used in contemporary social justice activism to describe efforts by groups of people to advance the interests of marginalized groups both in society at large and in particular social contexts..."
Actions and behaviors that individuals can take to support marginalized communities and combat racism.
Privilege: Understanding privilege is crucial to allyship because it affects how individuals perceive the world and the people in it. Privilege refers to the unearned advantages and benefits that people receive based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other factors.
Racism: A thorough understanding of the way racism works is essential to being a good ally. Racism involves the belief that one race is superior to another and the systemic and institutional ways in which that inequality is perpetuated.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality refers to the ways in which individuals experience different forms of oppression based on their intersecting identity factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Microaggressions: Microaggressions are subtle and often unintentional forms of discrimination that can have a significant impact on marginalized people.
Systems of Oppression: Understanding how systems of oppression operate in society is essential to being an effective ally. These systems include racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism, among others.
Cultural Appropriation: Cultural appropriation involves taking elements of another culture and using them without permission or understanding of their significance. It is important to understand why this is harmful to marginalized communities.
Allyship & Action: Being an ally is not just about words, but also about actions. Understanding the ways in which to be an effective ally requires knowledge of the history of activism and current best practices for supporting and centering marginalized communities.
Social Justice Movements: Understanding past and current social justice movements is important because it provides a framework for understanding the strategies and tactics that have been most effective in creating change.
Anti-Racism: Anti-racism is an active approach to combating racism through education, self-reflection, and action. Understanding this concept is crucial in becoming an ally.
Listening & Dialogue: Being able to listen and engage in dialogue with marginalized communities is essential to allyship. It is necessary to understand the experiences and needs of marginalized communities in order to effectively support them.
Educational/Informative Allyship: A type of allyship that involves educating oneself on the history and impact of systemic racism, as well as gaining knowledge on how to challenge discriminatory practices and behaviors.
Active Allyship: A type of allyship that involves taking action to challenge and dismantle systemic racism, such as through advocacy for policy changes, attending protests, and supporting marginalized communities.
Vocal Allyship: A type of allyship that involves speaking out against racism and discrimination, calling out racist behavior when it occurs, and using one's voice and platform to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals and communities.
Relationship Building Allyship: A type of allyship that involves building and nurturing relationships with people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds to better understand their experiences and perspectives, as well as working together to challenge systemic racism.
Self-Reflective Allyship: A type of allyship that involves reflecting on one's own biases and privileges, as well as holding oneself accountable for one's actions and words in relation to racism and discrimination.
"The term and related behaviors are controversial, with critics alleging that allyship is an ideological, performative, and insincere notion that may ignore prior concepts of tolerance and solidarity."
"The term entered widespread use during the 2010s and the presidency of Donald Trump."
"Its usage has grown especially common in political activism and organizational rhetoric since the murder of George Floyd and the beginning of the international George Floyd protests in May 2020."
"Proponents of the concept say that allyship can be a response to most forms of discrimination, such as racism, ableism, xenophobia, and sexism."
"Outcomes of allyship that are considered desirable by its advocates include greater inclusion in the workplace and empowerment of outgroups."
"Some advocates of allyship may define it in routes of activism, such as changing to more inclusive use of language, removing bias from hiring and promotion processes, and combating perceived forms of prejudice against disadvantaged groups."
"Other proponents of the term describe it as a 'lifelong process' that cannot be limited to individual behaviors or patterns of behavior."
"Conversely, Black workers have reported that performative and excessive demonstrations of allyship have negatively impacted their quality of life and comfort within their workplaces."
"The term and related behaviors are controversial..."
"...the presidency of Donald Trump" and "the murder of George Floyd."
"Its usage has grown especially common in political activism and organizational rhetoric..."
"Allyship can be a response to most forms of discrimination, such as racism, ableism, xenophobia, and sexism."
"Outcomes of allyship that are considered desirable by its advocates include greater inclusion in the workplace and empowerment of outgroups."
"Changing to more inclusive use of language, removing bias from hiring and promotion processes, and combating perceived forms of prejudice against disadvantaged groups."
"Other proponents of the term describe it as a 'lifelong process' that cannot be limited to individual behaviors or patterns of behavior."
"Performative and excessive demonstrations of allyship have negatively impacted their quality of life and comfort within their workplaces."
"Critics alleging that allyship is an ideological, performative, and insincere notion..."
"...in 2021, it was announced as Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Year.'"
"...alleging that allyship is an ideological, performative, and insincere notion that may ignore prior concepts of tolerance and solidarity."