Unpacking Allyship: Moving Beyond Performance to Authentic Practice

Description

“I am an ally,” is a statement we hear all too often. It’s like an identity — an ally is something that you either are or are not. This framing of allyship gives way to savior-like behaviors and wearing the label of ally like a badge of honor (or a badge of wokeness!). But what if we were to reframe allyship as a practice, not an identity?

Allyship is a set of behaviors practiced by people in dominant identity groups to promote equity and center the needs of people in marginalized identity groups. As such, allyship is not just a superficial performance but requires a deeper understanding of power and identity.

In this session, we will unpack allyship by examining both pitfalls and success stories. You will walk away with specific values and behaviors that support the authentic practice of allyship.

Learning Outcomes:

• Define allyship as a set of behaviors to be practiced in solidarity — not an identity
• Highlight failed attempts at allyship and explain why they do not work
• Uncover the key behaviors of meaningful allyship and how you can practice these behaviors in your own life