In the period that personality has become more complex and there are many ways that individuals can define themselves, how can we remain ally to those who experience oppression or marginalization?
The concept of union is not new in our discipline. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) lists a number of resources on its website about “inclusive language” and guidelines for dealing with systemic racism. They define allyship clearly: “People who recognize the unearned privilege they receive from White, male privilege. sexChristianity, heterosexuality, ableism and other identities and take responsibility for promoting equality” (“Inclusive Guidelines,” 2023, General Conditions, paragraph 3).
Insights from the Fellowship on Anti-Semitism and Jewish Identity
I was particularly thinking about the ally I recently attended at the Communication and Summer Institute on Antisemitism and Jewish Identity in Academic Settings at my alma mater, George Washington University. One of the main themes of the program was the ways in which people who identify as Jewish are often forced to hide this aspect of their identity because fear being targeted or treated negatively.
Another consideration is that in the context of discussions of limited identities, Jews as a group are not always recognized. For example, concepts of systemic racism often bring to mind black identity or people of color (POC). This sticks when thinking about how to categorize the Jewish people, because racializing this group has been one of the particularly harmful ways that they have been demonized and oppressed historically. While it remains debatable whether or not Jewish individuals constitute their own distinct race, considering the social construction inherent in any racial grouping, treating this group as its own ethno-religious category may be less problematic.
Why is this important? When considering inclusion, it is imperative as allies to consider the spectrum of identities that may be vulnerable to marginalization or intimidation. For example, in the case of American Jews, despite making up 2% of our population in the United States, hate crimes against them have increased to 63% by 2023 (New FBI Data, 2024). In fact, during the program I attended, I heard how many teachers, representing educational institutions across our country, feel uncomfortable about being “out” as a Jew for fear of retaliation or backlash from their colleagues or even students.
When looking at the official publications on the APA website, I was pleased to see in many places under the literature on the union and various forms of oppression (“Inclusive Guide,” 2026). This is an important recognition for our professional organization, as we are both anxiety around the target’s fear of being targeted for their minority status, as well as if or when a person is a victim discrimination or worse, can seriously damage a person’s mental and physical health.
Personality disorders and the need for an inclusive environment
Participating in this recent program at GWU taught me that being an ally can take many forms. Identity is complex, and even aspects of a person’s personality that may not be immediately observable, such as their religious or cultural background, must be considered as we work to create inclusive environments in our professional and personal lives.
Furthermore, many of the ideologies known for promoting anti-blackness, such as white supremacy, also center anti-Semitism as a core feature. Anti-Semitic tropes, especially in the digital space, are often mixed with conspiracy theories and other hateful rhetoric. The vulnerability of online users to being radicalized in ways that clearly promote anti-Semitism is one of the central themes of my recent publication on identity development in the digital age (Aalai, 2026).
Alliship, the APA reminds its readers, means using your position to center marginalized voices and work for justice. Actions are important to an ally. So, I would like to take this time to invite readers to find out how inclusive their concept of an ally is and if there is an opportunity to expand what groups are part of our consideration as we continue to create a safe space in our respective spheres of influence.
Copyright 2026 Azade Aalai.
