Steps to allyship at Nest

We want everyone who works at Nest to be respected. Everything we do at Nest is enabled by our values of transparency, respect, ease, and empowerment. We strive to treat everyone with equal courtesy and consideration, regardless of background, race,?gender or their place within the organisation.?

Today, we’re introducing some important ideas to help encourage you to be a better ally at work and in the wider community.?

First up, what is allyship???

The dictionary definition of allyship is a good place to start. It’s the state or condition of being an ally: supportive association with another person or group. It is also known as association with the members of a marginalized or mistreated group to which one does not belong.??

Allies recognise that though they’re not a member of the marginalised communities they support, they make a concerted effort to better understand the struggle, every single day.?

What does an ally do??

• An ally stands up and calls out inappropriate behaviour or microaggressions?
• An ally lifts people up through intentional, positive, and conscious efforts??
• An ally transfers the benefits of their privilege to those who lack it??
• An ally takes responsibility for their own education??

What do we mean by privilege??

Privilege, in the context of diversity and inclusion, is a set of unearned benefits enjoyed by people who belong to particular social groups. Acknowledging one’s privilege can be uncomfortable. Privilege is an important concept in D&I work because it can help identify those with the social capital to effect change. ?

Being able to acknowledge the privileges you may have can correspond with understanding your identity. This also allows every individual, regardless of background, to be an ally.?

What is performative allyship??

Performative allyship is where those with privilege, share their solidarity with a cause. This assumed solidarity is usually vocalised and followed by little action. It is often associated with surface-level activism. At Nest we seek to avoid performative allyship.?

Example of allyship in action??

Andy Murray?- The former world number has actively highlighted a lack of diversity on the board at the Lawn Tennis Association and frequently voices his support for gender equality in tennis. In a famous interview, he admonished a reporter who incorrectly identified him as the first person to win two Olympic gold medals.??

Melissa Viviane Jefferson (Lizzo)?- The American singer, rapper, and musician Lizzo corrected reporters who misgendered Demi Lovato (Demi Lovato is non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them).???

Barak Obama?- Obama was named LGBT+ ally of the year during his time in office. Expanding on the rights for LGBTQ+ Americans is one of the president’s legacy projects.?

It’s ok to make mistakes??

You might be worried about saying the wrong thing or acting as an ally for someone who might not want help. It’s ok to make mistakes as an ally. If you get it wrong, it’s about learning from your mistakes. It’s important to remember that we’ll never progress if we don’t learn. If you’re not sure, it’s ok to ask. As allies, we should be constantly reflecting, learning, and growing.?

And we’d also love to hear from you. What does allyship mean to you? Are you already practising allyship at your organisation? Let us know in the comments below.??