What is an ally?
Being an ally means actively supporting and standing up with marginalised groups or people who face discrimination.
What ally’s do?
- get informed about issues
- stand up with people who face discrimination
- do the right thing even when no one is looking
- stand up against discrimination
- call people who discriminate ‘in’ to conversations
- challenge stereotypes
- take action
What not to do if you are an ally
- jump in before you have researched
- speak ‘for’ people (because this is disempowering)
- only be an ally when the ‘right’ people are watching
- discriminate against people
- call people ‘out’ (this excludes and makes them the ‘enemy’)
- stereotypical
- be a bystander
Here are two films that can tell you more:
After watching them you could discuss:
- How has your idea of allyship changed?
- In what situations in your life could you be an ally?
- Can you share an example of when you have been an ally or seen someone else being an ally?