Becoming an Ally

Breaking the cycle of oppression

Anne Bishop

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9781865088860
• eBook ISBN:
  9781000949315
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Social Work

Already I have found myself quoting Anne Bishop's wisdom: her simple advice is compelling. Right now in Australia she has the power to lead us as we struggle with questions of guilt, responsibility and patterns of oppression which are 'larger than ourselves'.

Rev. Tim Costello, President, Baptist Union of Australia

Becoming an Ally is must reading for anyone concerned with understanding and challenging the dynamics, forms, and sources of oppression-whether it is their own oppression, that of others, or both.

Bob Mullaly is Head of Social Work at Victoria University, Melbourne

Where does oppression come from? Has it always been with us, just 'human nature'? What can we do to change it? What does individual healing have to do with the struggles for social justice? What does social justice have to do with individual healing? Why do members of the same oppressed group fight each other, sometimes more viciously than their oppressor? Why do some who experience oppression develop a life-long commitment to fighting oppression, while others turn around and oppress others?

Anne Bishop draws on her many years experience in community work to write this feisty and bestselling guide for activists, community workers and welfare workers.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Dedication
• About the Author
• Acknowledgements
• Big Words
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Preface to the First Edition
• Images: Competitive Oppressions
• Chapter One Why Write a Book About Becoming an Ally?
• Chapter Two Step 1: Understanding Oppression—How did it come about?
• A Journal Entry: “They Wouldn't be Able to Pick Us Off One by One”
• Chapter Three Step 1: Understanding Oppression—How is it held in place?
• Morality, Duty, and Being True to Yourself
• Chapter Four Step 1: Understanding Oppression—The personal is political
• A Story: Racism and Sexism
• Chapter Five Step 2: Understanding Different Oppressions
• Two Quotes: Breaking Silences, Healing
• Chapter Six Step 3: Consciousness and Healing
• Chapter Seven Step 4: Becoming a Worker in Your Own Liberation
• A Journal Entry: Racism and Sexism
• Chapter Eight Step 5: Becoming an Ally
• A Journal Entry: How Not to be an Ally: An open letter to the young man who spoke at our memorial rally on December 6th
• Chapter Nine Notes on Educating Allies
• Chapter Ten Step 6: Maintaining Hope
• Glossary
• References
• Index