“If you've come here to help me, you're wasting your time. But if you've come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” - Australian Aboriginal Leader Lilla Watson
This post acts as an introduction to a primary goal I have for this blog - connecting scholarship and practice in Higher Education. While I have not yet started readings for classes, I have had the privilege today to read part of Keith E. Edwards's article "Aspiring Social Justice Ally Identity Development," an article explaining a conceptual model of different types of allies, and how those different identities relate to diverse motivations for being allies. To read the entire article, please visit this link. The provide a brief summary, Edwards outlines three types of allies: the Ally for Self-Interest, Ally for Altruism, and Ally for Social Justice. These are listed in order of awareness of systems and actions of oppression - in other words, the Ally for Social Justice is most aware of the systems of oppression and how to "'speak with the oppressed without speaking for the oppressed'" (p. 50).
The purpose is not to fault the ally for self-interest or the ally for altruism, but rather to provide some insights into their motivations. The ally for self-interest is simply acting "to protect those one cares about" (p. 46), but does not have a complete of how oppression acts on a systematic rather than individual level, and thus can feel "deeply powerful and self-actualized when intervening on behalf of individuals they care about who are members of oppressed social groups" (p. 48). This unintentionally perpetuates the oppression that this ally is attempting to address. Similarly, the ally for altruism, while more aware of the systematic nature of oppression, is motivated primarily by guilt, and thus "distances oneself from others in the agent group in an attempt to minimize the guilt" and becomes defensive when their own oppressive actions are addressed (p. 49). This also unintentionally perpetuates the oppression, for these allies see themselves as helping the target group, which is not the goal of social justice.
The true goal is rather for everyone to work together for an equitable liberation of all peoples - both the oppressed and the oppressor, as both are affected by systems of oppression. Such is the goal of the ally for social justice: "to better connect all individuals...to restore individual and collective humanity and spiritual liberation" (p. 52).
I read this article on a suggestion from our departments Coordinator for Social Justice Education, since the building I direct has a Living-Learning Community focusing specifically on social justice. A principle in our department is that our RAs are expected to at least be advocates for all residents, but not expected to be allies. If they wish to be allies, that is great, but we cannot require them to be. With this community being in my building, though, I see it as one of my own responsibilities to be as educated on social justice as possible, and this article was a great introduction. For example, I feel that I now finally, fully comprehend the opening quote to this post - one which our Coordinator used in a training session. See page 50 of the article for the point at which the lightbulb switched on. :)
One manner in which I plan to utilize this article is for a better understanding of the development of the aspiring allies in my building. I know that I have many in that living-learning community, yet I do not expect them to be fully-developed allies for Social Justice. Many on that wing may be in Edwards's category of aspiring allies for altruism, while many throughout my hall may be allies for self-interest. Consequently, I expect issues and microagressions to arise through their well-intended actions, and having a better-educated background through this article prepares me to better address these issues. The same applies to both my own development as an ally and the development of residents who come to me for help with their own ally developments. I myself am currently on the border between an ally for altruism and an ally for social justice, but I hope that consistent reflections such as these will help push me over the edge.
Please let me know what you think about my first attempt at addressing/connecting an article!
Article Citation: Edwards, K. E. (2006). Aspiring social justice ally identity development. NASPA Journal 43 (4), 39-60.
Quote Citation: Watson, L. (n.d.). Goodreads.com. Retrieved from: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/306551-if-you-ve-come-here-to-help-me-you-re-wasting-your.
Photo By: Me - I thought that a photo from my ca
No comments:
Post a Comment