Performative Allyship: What It Is and Why It Hurts

Have you heard the term "performative allyship"? It's used to describe when someone claims to be an ally to a marginalized group, but their actions don't match their words. Performative allyship can be harmful because it can lead to tokenism, exploitation, and a false sense of progress.

Here are some examples of performative allyship:

• Posting a black square on social media after the murder of George Floyd.
• Wearing a rainbow flag during Pride month.
• Signing a petition in support of a marginalized group.

While these actions may seem harmless, they can be harmful if they aren't accompanied by real action. For example, posting a black square on social media doesn't do anything to address racism. Wearing a rainbow flag during Pride month doesn't help LGBTQ+ people. And signing a petition in support of a marginalized group doesn't actually change the system.

Performative allyship can lead to tokenism. Tokenism is when a marginalized person is only included in a group or organization to make it look more diverse. Tokenism is harmful because it reduces marginalized people to their identity instead of seeing them as individuals.

In addition, performative allyship can lead to exploitation, or when a marginalized person is taken advantage of for their labor or resources. For example, a company may hire a few token employees from a marginalized group to make it look like they are committed to diversity and inclusion. However, these employees may not be given the same opportunities as non-marginalized colleagues and may be exploited for their labor.

Finally, performative allyship can create a false sense of progress. When people see performative allyship, they may think the world is becoming more inclusive. However, performative allyship does not change the system. It just makes it look like the system is changing.

If you want to be an ally to a marginalized group, it's important to do more than just post on social media or wear a rainbow. You can take real action to make a difference. Here are some things you can do:



• Educate yourself about the experiences of marginalized groups.
• Speak up against injustice.
• Support organizations that are working to make the world a more inclusive place.
• Hold yourself and others accountable.
• Earn your DEI Certification through the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®.

Diversity certification through IDC® can help you become a more effective ally. IDC's Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® programs provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the experiences of marginalized groups and challenge your workplace to make a real difference.