As a teacher, it is important to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to become well-rounded individuals who are advocates for equity and social justice. One way to achieve this is by teaching students about allies singular.
Allies singular are individuals who do not belong to a marginalized group but understand and support the struggles faced by those groups. They use their privilege and power to amplify the voices and experiences of marginalized people and work towards dismantling systems of oppression.
Here are a few ways teachers can teach students about allies singular:
1. Define and discuss privileges: Start by defining what privilege means and how it operates in society. Discuss different types of privileges that people may possess and how it can impact their experiences. For instance, white people, cisgender individuals, and heterosexual individuals possess certain privileges that non-white, LGBTQ+ individuals do not have.
2. Cultural humility: Teach students about cultural humility and how it relates to being an ally. Cultural humility is about acknowledging the different lived experiences of an individual and respecting their perspective. One must be willing to learn and grow, understand things from a broader perspective, include everyone and everything while making decisions.
3. Explore intersectionality: Encourage students to consider how different aspects of an individual’s identity intersect and contribute to experiences of oppression. For example, a black, trans or queer person might face different types of discrimination than a cisgender lesbian individual. It’s important to understand the complexity of individuals to ensure meaningful change towards equity is provided.
4. Teach allyship skills: Educate students about skills they can develop to be effective allies singular. Skills such as active listening, accurate information checking, and having difficult conversations are just a few examples. Share diverse literature and stories, conduct workshops to demonstrate the process.
5. Encourage activism: It’s important to encourage students to take appropriate actions to support marginalized groups and their struggle. Make sure they understand the importance of Black Lives Matter, Trans Lives Matter, avoid discrimination, stand up for minority groups. Support the development of activism by sharing information about rallies, marches and workshops.
Teaching students about being allies singular is important for creating a future that is more equitable and inclusive. By providing the tools, knowledge, and support needed for allyship, students can make a difference in their community and beyond.
