An ally is often defined as someone who is not a member of a marginalised group, but is willing to take action to support and help that group. An ally is someone who uses their opportunities and privileges to support, respect and protect members of marginalized groups by working to eliminate oppressive attitudes, beliefs and actions in themselves and their communities. Workplace allyship is critical to inclusion and equality.
First steps towards allyship
One cannot become an ally without knowing the barriers that marginalized groups face on a daily basis. Women, for example, struggle with stereotypes, sexism and prejudice. Over 4/5 of people from the LGBTQI+ community have been discriminated against because of their sexuality, or have faced non-inclusive behaviour in the workplace. Knowledge of the issues and challenges faced by a group increases understanding and with it opportunities for support.
Being aware and educated helps one to respond when witnessing microaggressions against a colleague from a marginalized group. Failing to address the comment at the time means one is taking the position of the one who is discriminating.
Openness to new information
When one is interested in the problems of a group other than his/her own, one should be open to new information. This is done both by asking colleagues questions and by reading resources and following the news on one’s own.
Active listening
Being an active listener is harder for a person than it appears. In a world where one’s attention is constantly distracted by notifications, emails and calls, presence is valuable. If a person is willing to talk openly about his/her problems with someone else, the active listener should not interrupt him/her. It is tempting to immediately share an experience or give advice, but this is wrong if it is not sought by her/him. At the end of sharing, he/she should ask “how can I help you” or say “here’s how I think I can support you” and then offer his/her advice.
Advocacy
When allyship is achieved, the next step is advocacy. Advocates support the visibility of people from marginalised groups in the workplace. They connect people with opportunities for advancement and level the playing field for everyone, regardless of their gender, culture or differences in background.
Allies and advocates are the people who break down barriers and make the workplace more equal, inclusive and inclusive for all.
