Allyship

An informed, consistent, and empathetic practice involving reflection, and re-learning past behaviors and approaches to constantly improve our self-awareness and adopt inclusive behaviors.

Allyship is an ongoing commitment to learning and taking courageous action to create more equitable and inclusive experiences and workplaces.

How can you be an effective ally at SOM and beyond?

Awareness. Reflection. Action.

Allyship involves re-learning the way you see the world, viewing situations not from the lens of your own experience or perspective, but based on the realities and experiences of others. That awareness includes teaching yourself to notice inequity—not just overt actions like the use of derogatory language, but also inequity in subtle forms, such as unconscious bias. Lack of self-awareness is not a trait of an ally. This means that as an ally, there is much to unlearn and learn—mistakes are expected. OID provides programming aimed at increasing awareness of those looking to become better allies.

The Dos

• Do be aware of your implicit biases.
• Do your research to learn more about the history of the struggle in which you are participating.
• Do the inner work to figure out how to acknowledge how you participate in oppressive systems.
• Do the outer work and figure out how to change the oppressive systems.
• Do use your privilege to amplify (digitally and in-person) historically suppressed voices.
• Do learn how to listen and accept criticism with grace, even if it's uncomfortable.
• Do the work every day to learn how to be a better ally.

The Don'ts

• Do not expect to be taught or shown. Take it upon yourself to use the tools around you to learn and answer your questions.
• Do not participate for the gold medal in the "Oppression Olympics" (you don't need to compare how your struggle is "just as bad as" a marginalized person's).
• Do not behave as though you know best.
• Do not take credit for the labor of those who are marginalized and did the work before you stepped into the picture.
• Do not assume that every member of an underinvested community feels oppressed.

Adapted from the following resources:
Paradigm
The Guide to Allyship
Be a Better Ally