From a stranger to a ‘one-of-us’ ally: A new Confucian approach to community allyship

ABSTRACT

Promoting social inclusion and supporting positive outcomes for marginalised groups through allyship has been a persistent feature of community-orientated psychological theories. Central to such works are mutually beneficial relationships between scholarly activists and communities. In considering such collaborations, the relevance of the Confucian concept of Ren (benevolent, human-heartedness) to allyship is clear. This approach features a Chinese form of relationalism, which involves transitions across different levels of interpersonal relations. From this perspective, establishing allyship involves a process whereby scholar activists’ transition from being a stranger to a one-of-us community participant. This transition is exemplified through reflections on a reciprocal collaboration between the first author and the Townsville Chinese Club. In theorising this example of allyship from a Confucian standpoint, we highlight the importance of understanding and enacting cultural nuances for establishing ethical and effective allyship in contemporary multicultural societies.

KEYWORDS:

• Allyship
• community
• Ren
• benevolent leadership
• Chinese relationalism
• Chinese social orientation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wendy Wen Li

Dr. Wendy Wen Li is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean for research in College of Healthcare Sciences at James Cook University, Australia. Dr Li is the Founding Convener of the AusAsian Mental Health Research Group (AMHRG).

Mee-Lynd Hung

Mee-Lynd Hung is the Secretary of the Townsville Chinese Club, Townsville, Australia.

Darrin Hodgetts

Dr. Darrin Hodgetts is a Professor of Societal Psychology, School of Psychology, Massey University, New Zealand. Professor Hodgetts is a societal and critical health psychology scholar with interests in the social determinants of health including urban poverty, homelessness and food insecurity.