Allyship in academia: building bridges for inclusion

Starting this month, our Diversity Impulses series will be exploring the diversity topics that are most relevant for academia. Every month, we’ll be sharing a short and thought-provoking impulse—a spark—to encourage reflection and discussion. These impulses will focus on the challenges and opportunities diversity brings, from the workplace to our broader communities.

Imagine a faculty member who notices a junior colleague’s grant application receiving unfair criticism. They step forward, not only to defend but also to highlight the proposal’s strengths. This support exemplifies allyship in action.

What exactly is allyship?
It is the commitment of someone from a non-marginalized group to support and take action to assist those within marginalized groups. In academia, it involves actively creating an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered.

Allyship takes different forms. Active allyship means advocating for underrepresented groups, combating discrimination, and promoting inclusive initiatives. Reactive/ Empathetic allyship offers immediate support—asking those affected how you can help and responding based on their needs. Both forms rely heavily on empathy.

True allyship is intersectional, addressing overlapping patterns of exclusions related to race, gender, sexuality, and ability or disability, ensuring no one feels overlooked.

To become an ally, start with self-awareness. Recognize your privileges—the aspects of your identity that shield you from systemic barriers—and consider how to use them for positive change. Recognizing your relevance within the academic space helps identify how your actions, influence, and resources contribute to meaningful inclusion.

What can you do?

• Educate yourself: Explore the lived experiences of marginalized groups.
• Strengthen voices: Use your position to elevate underrepresented perspectives.
• Take action: Confront biases, interrupt microaggressions, and advocate for equitable policies.
• Practice empathy: Listen without judgment and provide emotional and practical support in moments of distress.

Why is allyship crucial? Universities reflect society’s diversity and systemic challenges. Practicing allyship cultivates a culture of belonging and innovation, enriching academia and helping create a fairer world. Being an ally means collaborating and supporting without taking charge. It’s about elevating others, ensuring their voices are heard, without becoming a savior.

Watch this short video by Murdoch University Australia for more inspiration.

Resources and Further Reading

Bishop, A. (2015). Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People. London: Zed Books.
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. New York, NY: Random House.
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, Vol. 1989, Article 8.
DiAngelo, R. (2018). White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Oluo, I. (2018). So You Want to Talk About Race. New York, NY: Seal Press.
Saad, L. F. (2020). Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks.
Sue, D. W. (2010). Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Online Resources

Guide to Allyship. (n.d.). A comprehensive resource on allyship and actionable steps. Retrieved from https://guidetoallyship.com.
Kimberlé Crenshaw – Work on Intersectionality (Columbia Law). (n.d.). Foundational insights on overlapping systems of oppression. Retrieved from https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/kimberle-w-crenshaw.
University of Colorado Boulder – Center for Inclusion and Social Change. (n.d.). Practical tools for allyship in academic settings. Retrieved from https://www.colorado.edu/inclusion.
University of Michigan – Allyship in Action (Diversity & Inclusion). (n.d.). Practical insights for fostering inclusive spaces. Retrieved from https://diversity.umich.edu.