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Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People
Becoming an Ally is a book for men who want to end sexism, white people who want to end racism, straight people who want to end heterosexism, able-bodied people who want to end ableism for all people who recognize their privilege and want to move toward a more just world by learning to act as allies.
Has oppression always been with us, just part of human nature ? What does individual healing have to do with social justice? What does social justice have to do with individual healing? Why do members of the same oppressed group fight one another, sometimes more viciously than they fight their oppressors? Why do some who experience oppression develop a life-long commitment to fighting oppression, while others turn around and oppress those with less power?
In this accessible and enlightening book, now in its third edition, Anne Bishop examines history, economic and political structures, and individual psychology in a search for the origins of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism and all the other forms of oppression that divide us. Becoming an Ally looks for paths to justice and lays out guidelines for becoming allies of oppressed peoples when we are in the privileged role.
A new chapter in this third edition offers a greatly expanded discussion of effective approaches to educating allies, which is meant for teachers of adults, particularly those who teach about diversity, equity and anti-oppression. In this chapter, Bishop examines the ways in which Western culture prevents us from recognizing our roles as members of privileged groups and explores how to challenge this with participatory exercises and group discussion. "
Has oppression always been with us, just part of human nature ? What does individual healing have to do with social justice? What does social justice have to do with individual healing? Why do members of the same oppressed group fight one another, sometimes more viciously than they fight their oppressors? Why do some who experience oppression develop a life-long commitment to fighting oppression, while others turn around and oppress those with less power?
In this accessible and enlightening book, now in its third edition, Anne Bishop examines history, economic and political structures, and individual psychology in a search for the origins of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism and all the other forms of oppression that divide us. Becoming an Ally looks for paths to justice and lays out guidelines for becoming allies of oppressed peoples when we are in the privileged role.
A new chapter in this third edition offers a greatly expanded discussion of effective approaches to educating allies, which is meant for teachers of adults, particularly those who teach about diversity, equity and anti-oppression. In this chapter, Bishop examines the ways in which Western culture prevents us from recognizing our roles as members of privileged groups and explores how to challenge this with participatory exercises and group discussion. "
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
18 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Anne Bishop
5 books23 followersAnne Bishop was, before her retirement, a community organizer and adult educator. She has also worked in the field of international development. For almost thirty years she has been part of, and worked with, many groups struggling to achieve social justice.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 18, 2014
This book is excellent. I appreciate it very much when academic writers actually write in a tone that's easily accessible so thank you Anne Bishop. This book was obviously written from a personal place and it shows.
The book is about how to be an ally to a group of people you yourself are not a part of. It talks about groups of people who are oppressed (pretty much the whole world in fact).
My eyes were truly opened to a lot of things after I read this book. As a woman I am oppressed by society but can I also be an oppressor? Apparently, yes!
Some thought-provoking quotes:
“We are investing energy in the source of all our oppressions, which is competition itself.”
“The truth is that each form of oppression is part of a single complex, interrelated, self-perpetuating system.”
“The silence and inaction becomes the ballast that steadies the whole system.”
The book is about how to be an ally to a group of people you yourself are not a part of. It talks about groups of people who are oppressed (pretty much the whole world in fact).
My eyes were truly opened to a lot of things after I read this book. As a woman I am oppressed by society but can I also be an oppressor? Apparently, yes!
Some thought-provoking quotes:
“We are investing energy in the source of all our oppressions, which is competition itself.”
“The truth is that each form of oppression is part of a single complex, interrelated, self-perpetuating system.”
“The silence and inaction becomes the ballast that steadies the whole system.”
November 20, 2019
I loved this book. Bishop gave a really powerful overview of the importance of allyship, what being an ally does and does not mean, how to be an ally, and how to work with allies. I had to read this for my Anti-Racism Social Work class, and I'm really glad I did.
"Guilt means taking on all the weight of history as an individual; responsibility means accepting your share of the challenge of changing the situation. Members of oppressor groups spend a great deal of energy in denying responsibility for oppression. What would happen if all that energy would be put to work figuring out how to end it?"
"Self-esteem does not have to mean distancing yourself from the oppressor role, it can come instead from taking a proud part in the struggle to end oppression. This involves learning to separate guilt from responsibility. Guilt means taking on all the weight of history as an individual; responsibility means accepting your share of the challenge of changing the situation."
"Guilt means taking on all the weight of history as an individual; responsibility means accepting your share of the challenge of changing the situation. Members of oppressor groups spend a great deal of energy in denying responsibility for oppression. What would happen if all that energy would be put to work figuring out how to end it?"
"Self-esteem does not have to mean distancing yourself from the oppressor role, it can come instead from taking a proud part in the struggle to end oppression. This involves learning to separate guilt from responsibility. Guilt means taking on all the weight of history as an individual; responsibility means accepting your share of the challenge of changing the situation."
September 10, 2011
This book is a must-read for everyone who wants to move beyond fighting their own oppression, to supporting other groups as they fight theirs.
November 13, 2008
I really appreciated this book. Her writing style is personal, from first hand experience. She acknowledges that she's writing from her own account, so the advice may not be accurate for all. One example would be her advice on not taking up other peoples' culture, yet she makes no room for cultures which are open to new members from outside their historical group. Perhaps she was simply meaning that a newcomer should not assume they face the same historically based oppressions?
Anyways, there is a lot of material near the end in regards to how one would lead an ally building workshop. She's careful to repeat that one should not try and lead a workshop unless very confident of their skills, since it can do more harm than good.
I think that overall the book was a good easy read, and I liked a lot of what she had to say. I definitely left the book having new understanding of oppressors' defensive reactions.
And I truly appreciate her linking of all oppressions.
Anyways, there is a lot of material near the end in regards to how one would lead an ally building workshop. She's careful to repeat that one should not try and lead a workshop unless very confident of their skills, since it can do more harm than good.
I think that overall the book was a good easy read, and I liked a lot of what she had to say. I definitely left the book having new understanding of oppressors' defensive reactions.
And I truly appreciate her linking of all oppressions.
November 25, 2025
Read this book. Ask your family and coworkers and accomplices to read this book.
“An ally… is a person who is on the dominant side of a form of structural oppression (like sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism), recognizes their inherited privilege and makes an active, long-term commitment to end it. Ally is not intended for self-naming, for three reasons: first, becoming an ally is defined not by words but by action taken under the leadership of those who experience that form of oppression. Second, ally is a noun in English, a notoriously static language. We need a word to describe allies that is fluid because the work of an ally is always changing, shaped by time, place and context by a specific group or issue. In English, this requires pairing ally with a phrase, as in ‘I am working with… as an ally,’ or ‘I am learning to be an ally,’ or ‘I offered to act as an ally for…’ but not ‘I am an ally’. Third, the honour of being called an ally is a gift given by the individuals or groups of ‘first voices’ the ally works with.”
“An ally… is a person who is on the dominant side of a form of structural oppression (like sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism), recognizes their inherited privilege and makes an active, long-term commitment to end it. Ally is not intended for self-naming, for three reasons: first, becoming an ally is defined not by words but by action taken under the leadership of those who experience that form of oppression. Second, ally is a noun in English, a notoriously static language. We need a word to describe allies that is fluid because the work of an ally is always changing, shaped by time, place and context by a specific group or issue. In English, this requires pairing ally with a phrase, as in ‘I am working with… as an ally,’ or ‘I am learning to be an ally,’ or ‘I offered to act as an ally for…’ but not ‘I am an ally’. Third, the honour of being called an ally is a gift given by the individuals or groups of ‘first voices’ the ally works with.”
June 24, 2018
"Guilt means taking on all the weight of history as an individual; responsibility means accepting your share of the challenge of changing the situation. Members of oppressor groups spend a great deal of energy in denying responsibility for oppression. What would happen if all that energy would be put to work figuring out how to end it?"
An accessible, thorough, important, practical, interesting and confrontational book.
An accessible, thorough, important, practical, interesting and confrontational book.
June 12, 2020
This book was simply transformative. In particular, the concepts of "power-over" verses "power-with," and refocusing our feelings of guilt into feelings of responsibility will stay with me for a long time.
Bishop stresses that to be an ally, we must work toward our own liberation as well. Her tone is straight-forward and measured, and yet she convinces us that the first step to allyship is to allow ourselves to feel.
Bishop stresses that to be an ally, we must work toward our own liberation as well. Her tone is straight-forward and measured, and yet she convinces us that the first step to allyship is to allow ourselves to feel.
January 6, 2022
I just finished reading this small but very powerful book during the new year. It was a required reading for a class I was taking, and I am glad i have a copy of this.
Very powerful and enriching passages in this one. Will definitely be using this in future works, professionally and as a reference.
Very powerful and enriching passages in this one. Will definitely be using this in future works, professionally and as a reference.
June 24, 2018
Everyone should read this!
October 29, 2018
written with incredible clarity
July 25, 2020
Astonishingly bad.
November 4, 2023
As a WOC, I have mixed feelings about this book.
There are a lot of takeaways and food for thought..
There are a lot of takeaways and food for thought..
March 11, 2024
this book is for everyone.
a must read.
a must read.
August 10, 2025
Essential reading for any social work student.
June 14, 2013
This book was really amazing! For me it was a serious education around working as an ally, a reminder about the interconnectedness of various opressions, and a reminder not to take part in the race to the bottom that is the discussion of who is the 'most oppressed.' Notes on educating Allies (Chapter 9) was especially useful for me. Maintaining Hope (Chapter 10) moved me to tears. While the book could use an update (especially some of the glossary terms), it is still very useful and a resource for anyone ready to get a serious education on becoming an ally.
August 27, 2008
I would need to read this book again to have a clear memory of this book. But waht I rmember, this is a great book for anyone who is looking for tools to be an ally. And that can mean anything from having friends or families who are apart of minority groups, homeless, the mentally ill. Although, it focused for those that are helpers, i think anyone who want to be an ally to another person, it can be an increadible read.
December 17, 2012
This book is important for anyone who wants to understand oppression, although focused on Aboriginal issues it is easily transferable to any power dynamics. Easy, great read.
March 17, 2015
Read for LIS 418
February 24, 2014
SW study mandatory - must read!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews