Why I Don’t Consider Myself an ‘Ally’
Since everyone seems to have their own definition of what makes someone an “ally,” I won’t attempt to label myself as such
Allyship is never an easy topic to broach. How can each of us intervene or give support when we see oppression unfolding? What is the best way to take action if someone with a lack of privilege confides in us?
There’s no mathematical formula for achieving this.
Additionally, we must assess whether something is indeed a privilege. It’s imperative to be aware of when discrimination and injustice has gone unchecked.
While most people tend to frame these discussions in terms of race or gender, we’d be doing a disservice to people’s lived experiences if we fail to broaden that scope. Are prejudices snowballing into systemic abuses? What about in venues not directly funded by the federal government?
When cultural, interpersonal, and structural hardships collide — there’s no handbook of absolutism for functioning as an “ally” in those scenarios.
What Is an “Ally”?
We often hear about the need for one to “decenter” themselves when considering how to be an ally to a specific group to which they don’t belong. But what is the…
