Being A Good Ally Isn't About Being Perfect, It's About Trying
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Politics and Activism

Being A Good Ally Isn't About Being Perfect, It's About Trying

Being perfect is impossible, but being a good ally isn't about that.

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Being A Good Ally Isn't About Being Perfect, It's About Trying
Unsplash

When it comes to discussions of privilege versus inequality, there is always a mention of what being a good ally looks like. There are multiple ways of being a good ally, which leads to arguments between groups on which is the best way to be a decent ally as someone with one form of privilege or another.

My opinion is that there is one major way to be an ally that is an umbrella to cover all the other actions, mindsets, and vocabulary that is associated with being a good ally to the socially disadvantaged.

It is listening to those who are are not privileged and trying to your highest ability to do what they have taught you.

Being a good ally does not mean that you already know everything there is to know about every oppressed group in every society in the world. There isn't anyone like that who exists and knows how to be the "perfect" ally. There is no such thing as a perfect ally, they just simply don't exist.

For one to have privilege, equates to them never fully understanding what their privilege entails. Someone born into a high-class family will never truly understand what it feels like to be in poverty unless they experience it themselves. Same goes for white people who will never truly understand the privilege they have over people of color.

This doesn't even truly hit on the topic of intersectionality with privilege and inequality, which is extremely important to remember when trying to be a good ally. No one is solely affected by one type of prejudice or discrimination because no one is a single identity. We all are a mix and match of a ton of different identities which leads to who we are as individuals.

Being a good ally means recognizing intersectionality, acknowledging your place with privilege, listening to minority groups, and trying your best to do what minority groups say will help you be a great advocate.

From my own personal experience of being transgender and bisexual, I never expect my friends who are cisgendered and straight to understand what I experience. However, when I tell them that something they do isn't being a good ally, I do not expect them to be perfect from then on, I expect them to listen and try their hardest to respect what I asked them to do.

This respect comes out of using my correct pronouns or learning to change their previous thoughts that could be transphobic. I have several friends who still misgender me after nearly half a year of being out, but as long as they correct themselves and put the effort into being a good trans ally, that's all that matters to me.

Alternatively, as a white transgender male, I must realize the privilege I have and try to be the best ally I can be to people of color, transgender women, cisgendered women, and every other minority group that I do not belong to. I also have a duty to realize intersectionality within those who I have privilege over.

I do not expect myself to know everything about every disadvantaged group in my society and others, but I do hold myself to the standard of learning about what I can do as an ally and apply that information in every day that I possibly can.

No one will be upset at an uneducated ally because that doesn't make someone a bad ally. A bad ally is someone who is willfully ignorant and purposely harmful to others. Education and effort are the two main components to being a good ally.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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