"Fine Lines and Dances:" Understanding (and overcoming) the challenges of allyship at work

Abstract: Over the past few years, organizations have developed new programming to encourage their employees to become allies, those who advocate and actively work for the inclusion of marginalized groups, not as a member of that group but in solidarity with its struggle. This was fueled by the summer of 2020 with the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement during the racially fraught climate of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, after George Floyd was murdered, organizations held webinars encouraging their members to evaluate their own privileges and employees began forming resource groups for those learning to be an ally for the first time. Allyship may be a powerful tool for increasing social equity, however, more research is needed to understand whether allies are effective at helping organizations meet their social equity goals. I explore the novel challenges that allyship brings, such as evoking negative emotional responses, and how organizational interventions, like authenticity affirmations, can increase effort and commitment to social equity goals

Keywords: allyship, inequity, diversity, inclusion