An Ally's Role

I want to talk about an article I have recently read by Drury and Kaiser (2014). In this article the authors write about the male role in confronting sexism, which the state “men may have viewed allies who confronted as more legitimate than women because confronting sexism seems not to directly benefit men” (643). This quote states that men can only educate other men because women are not seen as their equals, so women will not be taken seriously in the presence of men. To me the thought process of the authors is benevolent sexism where they are trying to make an argument for the importance of men in confronting sexism, but it really comes out as reinforcing sexism. This reminds me of Cooper’s thought on the importance of who is in the center of activism and those working alongside the center.

In the first chapter of FAT ACTIVISM, Cooper writes that at the center of fat activism needs to be those who identify as fat. However, there can be allies and supporters, but they need to not be in charge and speaking to an experience they have not had.  When I think of the Drury and Kaiser (2014) article their idea of activism seems to be ally centered instead of oppressed center, which is problematic in many ways.

The first issue I take with ally center is lack of experience that allies have being that they themselves do not face the same systematic issues as those who are being oppressed. For example, with fat activism is that people who have not been discriminated against for their weight don’t really know the impacts that it has on those who have been discriminated against for weight. In the case of confronting sexism. If males only confront males and women are not having that ability. The you learning about an experience second hand, so important information and authenticity is getting lost. This goes into the second issue of ally centered activism, which is losing individual voice.

Usually allies are people that have more power than members of the activist group, so people who are see as having a “normal weight” is seen as having more power than someone who is fat or labeled obese, people who are heterosexual have more power in society than someone who is gay, and men have more power than women. By a group being allied center you lose the voice of those that the group is for and it allows for outsiders to overlook those that are trying to speak out against the prejudice and oppression they have faced. This also allows for power structures and social hierarchies to stay the same, so that the change the activist group seeks doesn’t happen.

It is easy to talk about ways in which allies hinder activism. However, I think it is important to note that allies are necessary for supporting groups. Especially, since they are the ones that do have more power in society, but it depends on how they use their power. It needs to be noted that allies should work alongside group members not on behalf of them, and not speaking for them. There are ways to be a positive ally that consist of education, support, and listening.

When I say education I don’t mean educating, but instead being educated. In the case of sexism listen to the experience of women in a male driven society to hear the issues they must go through every day. In another article, Richmond (2014) writes about education being done through different mediums, such as, discussion groups and literature. By holding discussion groups this gives a space for people to talk and ask questions. While literature allows for another experience and perspective of the activist group.    

The different educational tools are also ways to show support for a group. By introducing people to activist work may be in writing, music, art, or presentations you ultimately getting people engaged in the conversation no matter their opinion. In activism engagement is all you can ask for because no matter if you agree or disagree you will walk away with something. Maybe a conversation, thought, or emotion that will influence you in some way.

Another way to show support or positive ally ship is by giving an activist space to speak again that can be an actual space or by just engaging in their work and listening to what they have to say. As I said before allies tend to hold more power than group members, so if allies do not give activists place to speak then why would anyone else. For change to happen there needs to be listening and as an ally when you listen you are being and setting an example to those who aren’t apart of the group or are unfamiliar with the group. I can’t stress the idea of setting an example enough. I do think Drury and Kaiser (2014) were right when talking about taking people seriously. It is the unfortunate fact that the oppressed are take less serious than their counterparts. That is why allies are very important activism to be the example of taking the issue of oppression seriously and sharing their power with the oppressed.