Allyship

Allyship is an English-language

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; in 2021, it was announced as Dictionary.com's "Word of the Year".^[5]

Proponents of the concept say that allyship can be a response to most forms of discrimination, such as racism, ableism, xenophobia, and sexism (see intersectionality). Outcomes of allyship that are considered desirable by its advocates include greater inclusion in the workplace and empowerment of outgroups.^[6] Some advocates of allyship may define it in routes of activism, such as changing to more inclusive use of language,^[7] removing bias from hiring and promotion processes,^[8] and combating perceived forms of prejudice against disadvantaged groups.^[9] Other proponents of the term describe it as a "lifelong process" that cannot be limited to individual behaviors or patterns of behavior;^[10] while some Black workers have reported that performative and excessive demonstrations of allyship have negatively impacted their quality of life and comfort within their workplaces.^[11] To produce genuine allyship, some proponents consider impromptu speaking as a key skill to operate on authenticity in everyday words and reactions.^[12]

Background

While the noun "allyship" has appeared in English-language sources since the 1840s,

Criticism of the term may also be found among supporters of the broader social justice and Black Lives Matter movements. Some critics say that the practices and behaviors associated with allyship do not reflect sincere intentions and serve primarily to validate their practitioners.^[4] Similarly, Emma Dabiri has said that "Allyship offers charity whereas coalition is more about solidarity", and that allyship's emphasis on the efforts of a privileged group to help disadvantaged groups reflects a "paternalistic attitude".^[21] Other concerns have stemmed from the degree to which the rhetoric of allyship is perceived as "performative" or insincere.^{[22][23][24][25]}

Allyship that is "performative" can emerge in numerous ways. That being said, performative allyship is understood to derive from reward, typically in the form of social recognition. A performative ally expresses support for marginalized groups or individuals, however, the intention behind the support works to uphold their own self image.^[26]

Some other critics, like David Weitzner, have also argued that the approach of allyship ignores the principles of organic and culturally-particular forms of cooperation and toleration, such as the Jewish concept of chavrusa, a form of instruction that empowers student participation.^[2]

See also

• Straight ally
• Anti-racism
• Anti-bias curriculum

References