Why Allies for Equity?
People often say that privilege is invisible to the people who have it. That certainly was, and is, the case for me as I constantly learn more about the ways my life has been affected by privilege. Some of us have more privilege than others. We did not earn it; it was freely given to us. The problem with privilege is that it gives unfair advantages to some people and creates extra challenges for others.
Unfortunately, our culture has been curated to support an unequal and unjust world in which the privileged stay powerful and the marginalized stay unheard. People often feel uncomfortable when someone brings attention to their privilege. I want to say one thing: there is nothing wrong with having privilege; what matters is how one uses it.
This inequitable culture is especially evident in the sphere of technology. Being a woman in technology is challenging because of the lack of women in technology, the uninviting culture within it, and the way we have been socialized to think about technology and gender, among other things. Women in technology often come into their studies and fields unwelcomed, particularly in majority male spaces and majors. Once they are studying or working within their fields, they are often treated differently than their male counterparts. They are not given the same support system, the same resources, and are treated unfairly.
Learning about these issues is extremely interesting, frustrating, and often disheartening. The more I learn, the more dedicated I am to use my privilege for good. I want to use my privilege to uplift women in technology. That’s why I formed the group Allies for Equity.
When I formed Allies for Equity, I wanted to encourage more men to think and care about gender inequity. I wanted men to have honest conversations about the challenges faced by women in tech and how they could be effective allies.
An ally is an individual who holds a privileged social identity and takes an active role in supporting individuals affected by inequity and combating negative influences that impact a marginalized group. For women in tech, an ally would be a man who acknowledges their privilege, actively educates himself on the challenges faced by women in technology and contributes to an inclusive and supportive environment. Being an ally is more than simply believing in equality, being empathetic to those who experience discrimination, or saying you are one; being an ally is about action. Allies should work to create an environment and culture in which all people feel valued, safe, and included.
Since the fall of 2018, Allies for Equity has met weekly to discuss equity issues, plan educational programs and workshops that focus on changing our inequitable culture. We work to learn about the challenges of women in technology and how to use this knowledge and our identity to raise awareness and combat negative influences that perpetuate the men-dominated culture in technology. To get involved, email us at cewit@indiana.edu.
Now we get to the hard part – how can you be an effective ally? The first thing to realize is that allyship is a constant process. You are continually learning different and better ways to be an ally. It is also important to understand that it is okay to make mistakes. In order to make a mistake, you have to try, and trying is more than what a lot of people are doing. When you make a mistake, use it to learn how to be a better ally.
Being an ally requires you to think about the way you and other people think and behave. You must be prepared to fight with and for others to create a more equal world.
Below are some strategies on how to be an effective ally, specifically for women in technology. This piece is focused on how to be an effective ally toward women in technology, but please understand that the information and strategies I am sharing are often transferable to other groups of people.
Tips
- Be conscious of the biases you hold.
We all have biases about people. Because of the way people have been socialized, people often subconsciously believe that men are better with technology and that women do not belong in tech fields. By recognizing the existence of biases about women and how they materialize, men are more likely able to combat those biases and become more conscious of their own behaviors. - Recognize your own privilege and use it to speak out for others.
When men in technology acknowledge and discuss their privilege and use that privilege to talk about the inequitable culture in technology, they have a better chance of changing the unjust environment. - Educate yourself about other people and identities that do not match your own.
For men in technology, this means researching the issues faced by women in school, the workplace, and other arenas. - Listen to the stories of individuals affected by inequity and be empathetic to them.
Men should be welcome and open listeners for women in technology in order to empathize with them, better understand the challenges they face, and become better effectors of change. One way to learn is to talk to women friends to explore their experiences with being treated differently.
These tips only highlight a few of the ways you can be a better ally. The most important thing about allyship is that it is a journey. Being an ally is constantly learning about how to be a better advocate for equity.
This Allies for Equity Blog Post was written by Jake Taylor, Lead Intern. Jake is a junior at Indiana University, pursuing a B.A. in journalism. He is also minoring in gender studies. Jake works as the Male Advocacy Lead Intern for the Center, and hopes to make a meaningful impact on equity issues in his role. Jake is a Resident Assistant at Eigenmann Resident Hall, a radio host for WIUX, and an executive board member of the club Reporters Without Borders.
Allies for Equity is a team of undergraduate men within the Center that promotes and supports efforts toward gender equity at Indiana University. Our group works to learn about the challenges of women in technology and how to use this knowledge and our identity to raise awareness and combat negative influences that perpetuate the men-dominated culture in technology.
