Social Justice Ally Development: Three Critical Frameworks for School Counselors

Abstract

Social justice is a theoretical concept that values human dignity and affirms the rights of individuals to decide their own destiny. The term ally refers to the members of dominant social groups who commit themselves to ending systemic oppression and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to introduce three ally identity development frameworks to help school counselors understand the process of becoming an ally. Bishop (2002), Edwards (2006), and Waters (2010) ally identity development theoretical conceptions were selected through PsycINFO, ERIC, and Google Scholar based on three criteria: (1) a clear emphasis on social justice as a developmental process, (3) recognition within the fields of counseling scholarship, and (3) their ability to highlight various complementary dimensions of identity development, including cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects. These frameworks are critically analyzed, and their limitations are discussed. Recommendations for school counselors on how to use these frameworks to promote their own, as well as their students’, ally identity development are provided.