Walk in Work: Take out your journals and label your next A or B page, “Becoming an Ally” Share with your group members one of the pictures from the gallery walk you connected with and why you think it stood out to you?

What is an ally? Allies are people who recognize the unearned privilege they receive from society’s patterns of injustice and take responsibility for changing these patterns. Allies include men who work to end sexism, white people who work to end racism, heterosexual people who work to end heterosexism, able- bodied people who work to end ableism, and so on. Part of becoming an ally is also recognizing one’s own experience of oppression. For example, a white woman can learn from her experience of sexism and apply it in becoming an ally to people of color, or a person who grew up in poverty can learn from that experience how to respect others’ feelings of helplessness because of a disability.

Recognizing your privilege Social RankAgent RankTarget Rank A ge Adults (18-64)Children, adolescents, Elders DisabilityAble-PersonsPersons with disabilities ReligionChristians and atheistsJews, Muslims, and other non-Christian religions EthnicityEuro-AmericansPeople of Color Sexual OrientationHeterosexualGay men, lesbians, bisexual, asexual, others… Social ClassUpper and Middle Class (Access to higher education) Poor and working class Indigenous BackgroundNon-NativeNative National OriginUs BornImmigrants and Refugees GenderMaleFemale, transgendered, and intersexed

Brainstorm: Who or What do you want to be an ally (belong to agent) or an activist (belong to target) for?

Now that you know who or what you want to support: Video:

There are many ways to be an ally: A man tells his coworkers that he's no longer interested in telling or listening to any jokes that put down women. Parents and teachers organize a program about teasing and targeting to help teenagers who are being harassed for being gay in their high school. They also launch a program in which all students can come to small groups to talk about their feelings about sexuality, sex roles, and other related topics. A person stands up in a town meeting and speaks on behalf of an immigrant group that is being scapegoated for "taking jobs" from people who have lived in the community for a longer period of time. Students organize themselves to put up anti bullying posters around their community.

Return to your list of people/groups you want to be an ally or activist for 1.Pick 3 of your top choices 2.Now for each one, give an example of how you could be an ally or activist for this group: EX: 1.Animals Spread the message of adopting/rescuing animals instead of breeding 2.Women/Girls Speak out against sexist dress codes and the over sexualization of female bodies 3.Homeless try to increase awareness of homelessness in our community and help people get the support they need.

What do you need to know in order to act as an ally in this way? EX: 1.Animals Spread the message of adopting/rescuing animals instead of breeding How many shelter dogs are euthanized or kept in shelters all their lives? 2.Women/Girls Speak out against sexist dress codes and the over sexualization of female bodies How can we help educate all students to respect one another so that these dress codes are not necessary? 3.Homeless try to increase awareness of homelessness in our community and help people get the support they need. What do those experiencing homelessness need most? What programs are already doing this work? How can I get involved in those programs?