During your education abroad program, you will likely encounter countless ways in which life abroad differs from what you're used to at home. While this diversity may excite you and you may feel completely at ease in your host country, others might feel out of place upon arrival. It’s important to recognize the privilege you carry - and that your level of privilege and access may look different abroad than it does at home.
Privilege, in the context of diversity and inclusion, refers to the unearned advantages that individuals from certain social groups enjoy due to historical power structures. Recognizing your own privileges can lead to a deeper understanding of your identity. This self-awareness is what enables anyone, regardless of background, to become an ally.
An ally is someone who uses their privilege to support those who don't share the same advantages. There are many ways to begin your journey as an ally. When faced with a situation where you don’t fully understand someone’s experience, a helpful starting point can be simply saying, “Tell me more.” This small phrase invites dialogue and encourages learning. The acts of listening - even when it's uncomfortable - and educating yourself are crucial steps toward allyship.
Questions to consider:
- How would I define my own identity (or identities)? Has my identity shifted throughout my life? How might it shift in a new social and cultural context abroad?
- What privileges do I carry that inform my experience and position in the world (such as education level, nationality, gender identity, or language ability)?
- How might local students or community members in my host country perceive me? Could the social and cultural landscape of my host country afford me additional privileges, perhaps some that I don't even receive at home?
- How might my peers on the same education abroad program experience life differently than I do?
- Are there challenges that others might face that I haven't noticed because of my own privilege?
- How would I respond if someone on my program or in my host country expressed sexist, racist, homophobic, or other discriminatory sentiments toward another person?
- How can I be inclusive and supportive of others who don't share the same privilege that I have? How can I practice active allyship?
Tips from the Education Abroad Office:
- Remain open to growth: Allyship is a continuous process that requires time, effort, and an open mind. You may not be the perfect ally at all times, but remaining open to new ideas and new forms of solidarity can help you build allyship skills.
- Conduct your own research: Consider seeking out the perspectives of people who have a different lived experience than you, and think about how you can use your voice to advocate for others.
- Challenge your biases: Having biases isn't a bad thing - our instinctive assumptions are a survival response that helps our brains parse through the large amounts of information we see at all times. Still, it's important that we acknowledge and challenge any biases that we may hold toward other people. When you catch yourself making an assumption about someone based on stereotypes or generalizations, take a moment to dismantle that bias in your own mind.
- Broaden your perspective: The best way to foster connection, solidarity, and understanding with other people is to keep an open mind and broaden your perspective when faced with new information. Listen to feedback from the people you are trying to support - it's not up to us as allies to determine what is best for other people, so take those conversations as a learning opportunity.
Resources:
During your education abroad program, you will likely encounter countless ways in which life abroad differs from what you're used to at home. While this diversity may excite you and you may feel completely at ease in your host country, others might feel out of place upon arrival. It’s important to recognize the privilege you carry - and that your level of privilege and access may look different abroad than it does at home.
Privilege, in the context of diversity and inclusion, refers to the unearned advantages that individuals from certain social groups enjoy due to historical power structures. Recognizing your own privileges can lead to a deeper understanding of your identity. This self-awareness is what enables anyone, regardless of background, to become an ally.
An ally is someone who uses their privilege to support those who don't share the same advantages. There are many ways to begin your journey as an ally. When faced with a situation where you don’t fully understand someone’s experience, a helpful starting point can be simply saying, “Tell me more.” This small phrase invites dialogue and encourages learning. The acts of listening - even when it's uncomfortable - and educating yourself are crucial steps toward allyship.
Questions to consider:
- How would I define my own identity (or identities)? Has my identity shifted throughout my life? How might it shift in a new social and cultural context abroad?
- What privileges do I carry that inform my experience and position in the world (such as education level, nationality, gender identity, or language ability)?
- How might local students or community members in my host country perceive me? Could the social and cultural landscape of my host country afford me additional privileges, perhaps some that I don't even receive at home?
- How might my peers on the same education abroad program experience life differently than I do?
- Are there challenges that others might face that I haven't noticed because of my own privilege?
- How would I respond if someone on my program or in my host country expressed sexist, racist, homophobic, or other discriminatory sentiments toward another person?
- How can I be inclusive and supportive of others who don't share the same privilege that I have? How can I practice active allyship?
Tips from the Education Abroad Office:
- Remain open to growth: Allyship is a continuous process that requires time, effort, and an open mind. You may not be the perfect ally at all times, but remaining open to new ideas and new forms of solidarity can help you build allyship skills.
- Conduct your own research: Consider seeking out the perspectives of people who have a different lived experience than you, and think about how you can use your voice to advocate for others.
- Challenge your biases: Having biases isn't a bad thing - our instinctive assumptions are a survival response that helps our brains parse through the large amounts of information we see at all times. Still, it's important that we acknowledge and challenge any biases that we may hold toward other people. When you catch yourself making an assumption about someone based on stereotypes or generalizations, take a moment to dismantle that bias in your own mind.
- Broaden your perspective: The best way to foster connection, solidarity, and understanding with other people is to keep an open mind and broaden your perspective when faced with new information. Listen to feedback from the people you are trying to support - it's not up to us as allies to determine what is best for other people, so take those conversations as a learning opportunity.
Resources:
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