PosterPDF Available

Abstract

Being a White ally goes beyond being merely “non-racist.” Allyship is behavioural and requires active participation in dismantling systems of oppression. The objective of this study was to better understand White allyship by looking at the propensity of observed allyship behaviour and self-reported allyship. Using a subsample (N=31) from a larger study, White participants took part in a laboratory behavioral task where they engaged in three 5-minute discussions with another White participant (a confederate) about racially-charged news stories in the United States while knowingly being watched by a Black RA via live recording. Stories represented different forms of racism towards Black people: the removal of a Confederate monument; the killing of an unarmed Black male college student by police during a traffic stop; and a fraternity party where members used Black stereotypes. The interactions were scored by a diverse group of trained reviewers. Furthermore, a newly developed self-report questionnaire indicating interpersonal allyship (IRAS) was used to ascertain self-reported allyship. Results showed when using a mean cutoff score of 2 as an indicator of allyship across the three scenarios (consistently supportive throughout the interaction; M = 1.11, SD = .49) that 6.4% of the participants met these criteria. Furthermore, 3.2% of the participants were allies in all 3 scenarios, 9.7% were allies in 2 scenarios, and 16.1% were allies in 1 scenario. Participants showed the highest allyship in the Black stereotyping scenario (M = 1.21, SD =.62), followed by the unarmed killing scenario (M = .89, SD = .56), and, finally, the Confederate monument scenario (M = .70, SD =.73). Looking at the IRAS, a score of 43/50 was used as a cutoff as it coincides with a score of 2 on each of the three lab tasks, 3.2% of participants received this score or higher. The results indicate that White allyship is low. This study sought to better understand White allyship by investigating objective ratings of allyship behaviour and self-reported allyship. The results indicated that the White people in this study are consistently not allies towards Black people. When observed and self-reported, very few acted in a way that shows allyship. Moreover, it seems as though the White people in this study may show more allyship behaviour depending on the form of racism presented. Future research should expand on and explore the complexities and nuances of White allyship.
Table 1. Pearson’s correlation coecients between the out of gas scale with the study habit
subscales and the adversity factor scale.
Table 1. Pearson’s correlation coecients between the out of gas scale with the study habit
subscales and the adversity factor scale.



 !"#$ % &
'(%
)*&+%,-
./!#)%
./!#)%
Allies 0  ''-   '   *  '
1--
o -        ' '   '
'   2    - 
-
o    3 '    '*
*'4'-5
    "'     
*    4 - '  67
+*' - ' 8&*
9:;<=>
  1 *  '  ' 1
'*"*--3
?@.A@
?@.A@
 -3    *  -   
---"
A#
8A#>      - 8' 9  
>-1'-
)   '  - 1' * * ' 

<> *'--
1' 
:> *A#--
B
methods cont’d
Behavioral Lab Task
@     C"' 
867> *    - "
*)
<> 6&'7 " -  5 -*    
'   '   . '' 
/ 
:> 6(7 " -     '  '  
- 
D> 6(7 " -      ''- '

(       * '
*-*-

A * -4       
'        - 
 '-  4   ' ' - 
*''-
o; 8-    ''>  < 8   5 
 ''>  : 8   
>  D 8 1 *   "  4
->
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%A.)A
results cont’d
Research Question 2 "A#-
-B
A1'A#ED2C;*--
F*-:
8>-+*D:G
8H<>
!**
*-'
8#.>A#
#'*
Table 1. Frequency of Participant Allyship for each of the Behavioral Lab
Tasks.
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&*J9#8:;<=>BA
-'Cultural Diversity and
Ethnic Minority Psychology. 24(3>DEK"DK:
'&98:;:;>#''
*New Ideas in Psychology
-'54
'-''

#
**
-'
''
*F-'
'
'"--
'-
o-5''
o"-''3
''-
o(*'-1-**"-8
>
oA4"
o(-F'
I'*'-
'*--
'-*'
'$
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PARTICIPANTS
( *  '     L=M "
+K<
(5*
 -     8 H D<>   
--
oC<KG' ':;:L8%HE;M>
PROCEDURE
Interpersonal Racial Allyship Scale (IRAS; self report measure)
 A#   <;"' '   ' -
- '   -

oC 8 >  E 8>  D 8  >  : 8> < 8
>
Vignette Low Allyship
8;"<>
Moderate
Allyship
8<":>
High Allyship
8:"D>
( <D8E<LG> <D8E<LG> C8<K<G>
( <L8K<DG> <<8DCCG> <8D:G>
&' :D8ME:G> C8<K<G> D8LMG>
Research Question 1 - 
'--1'B
Table 2. Frequency of Participant Allyship across Behavioral Lab Tasks.
Number of Vignettes Frequency of Observed
Allied Behavior 8G>
 <8D:G>
* :8KCG>
 :8KCG>
 :K8=DLG>
( *      
6(78&H <:<%HK:>*-
 6(7  8& H =L % H CK>  5 
6&'78&HM;%HMD>
'F:
8
>D:G-
D8-:>
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