Allyship involves the continuous effort of unlearning and reassessing, where someone strives to support and stand with a specific group that may have less influence or opportunity. It is a dynamic process that demands regular self-examination and education.
Allyship is not static (a noun); rather, it is an ongoing action (verb). Allyship represents a range of behaviors or expressions that one can take on in the demonstration of allyship (Griffin & Harro, 2006).
- Recognizing, Action
- Educating Self
- Educating Others
- Supporting / Encouraging
- Initiating / Preventing
Individual Actions for Allyship
- Educate Yourself: Read books, attend online and in-person trainings, and webinars. Engage in critical self-reflection about your own biases (take the Harvard Implicit Associations Test).
- Educate Others: Be courageous and address discrimination. Share insights and invite others to participate in conversations, trainings, and webinars.
- Support & Encourage: Explore ways to support your colleagues and peers who face barriers to access and opportunities. Support businesses and artists engaged in empowerment.
- Initiative & Preventing: Act and organize in partnership with communities, remembering to center the voices and needs of its members.