Gender and Sexuality

Allyship in Social Work

© 2021 Walden University, LLC 1

Allyship in Social Work Program Transcript NARRATOR: Recall your childhood and early social situations, perhaps on the

playground or at school. Now, imagine a child who doesn't quite fit in-- no peers to play

with or notice them. Or if they do, they laugh, point, or use derogatory terms. What do

you do? Do you befriend the child who is different? Do you say something? Do you

stand aside and let it continue? Or do you laugh along with the others?

While this example takes place in childhood, the question of being an ally to people who

are different or othered is not confined to that time of life, rather it becomes ever more

important as the situations and stakes become more serious. And it is a social worker's

ethical and professional responsibility.

So what does it mean to be an ally? Allies notice. They see issues in their environment,

particularly those affecting oppressed populations, issues of inequity, discrimination,

and violence. Allies act. They address issues through action. This might mean

supporting a client, educating others, or advocating for policy change at the macro level.

Allies uplift. They align themselves with and uplift the people and communities around

them. Allies take risks. They are courageous. They recognize that when they speak up,

they may lose status or become targets themselves. But they do so anyway.

Allyship is broad. In social work practice, it could mean anything from responding to

racial microaggressions in a group session, to advocating on the state level for LGBTQ

rights, to examining organizational policies that create barriers for people with

disabilities. Now consider how will you take action. What does being an ally look like for

you?