Factors Influencing the Ally Development of College Students

Abstract

Allies represent a crucial faction in the work for social justice; as members of the dominant population who advocate for the oppressed, they are important collaborators in this struggle. This qualitative inquiry investigated the ally development of 13 college students at a religiously affiliated institution in a Midwestern urban area. The interviews yielded several common factors, including personality qualities, family influence, faith, and realizations of Otherness. Implications for fostering the development of allies are discussed along with suggestions for future research.

Art Munin serves as Assistant Dean of Students at DePaul University and is an adjunct professor at both Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University. His academic interests are in ally development, justice and diversity training, leadership, and white privilege.

Suzette L. Speight is an assistant professor in Psychology at the University of Akron. Her research and scholarly interests include the psychology of oppression, mental health and African American women, multicultural training, and social justice and psychology.