allyship

[al-ahy-ship]

noun

1. the status or role of a person who advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalized or politicized group in all areas of society, not as a member of that group but in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership.

   Genuine allyship does not come with special recognition—we do not get awards for confronting issues people have to live with every day.

2. the relationship or status of persons, groups, or nations associating and cooperating with one another for a common cause or purpose.

   In 1943, fearing that earlier racist immigration laws would hinder allyship with China in the war against Japan, the U.S. passed legislation allowing 105 Chinese immigrants per year.

Word History and Origins

Origin of allyship¹

First recorded in 1845–50; ally ( def. ) + -ship ( def. )

Example Sentences

Anti-DEI crusader and Meta employee Robby Starbuck was mortified by the fact that various Netflix executives attended a corporate workshop in 2019 that centered on privilege and allyship.

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Perkins said his activism and academic work to create a more equal society were rooted in “antiracist allyship and the effects of individual and institutional bias,” according to his website.

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With 46 tracks by approximately 100 artists — including many trans and nonbinary musicians along with big names such as André 3000, Jeff Tweedy, Clairo and Perfume Genius — “Transa” sets down intimate stories of experience and allyship so that they might be “honored and remembered and live far beyond the present moment,” as Bell puts it.

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People talk about allyship; this is allyship in action.

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Like many not-yet-out people in the early 2000s, including myself, Clarke positioned his curiosity as a form of allyship and was stunned by the tenderness he saw onscreen and the harsh realities that came with it.

Read more on Salon