At Secure Diversity, we constantly discuss the importance of allyship. Whenever people are in a position of power because of identities, they have opportunities to speak up against oppression and sponsor/advocate for people that have historically excluded identities. How does allyship show up in the workplace to help others grow and excel in their careers? Secure Diversity’s founder, Deidre Diamond, had the opportunity to keynote the Ally of the Year Awards at RSA 2022. During this talk, she shared her personal story with struggles, allyship, and why it’s so important.
Poem Text:
Why Do I Need an Ally by Deidre Diamond
I am a woman from a privileged life
Why do I need an ally
1 in 4 girls are molested as a child
Why do I need an ally
1 in 6 women are victims of rape
Why do I need an ally
Money buys health and safety and yet only 11% of billionaires are women
Why do I need an ally
Women are said to be equal and yet there are laws that govern their bodies
Why do I need an ally
Women are said to have equal employment opportunities and yet men dominate the power seats
Why do I need an ally
Women are said to be safe at work and yet 28% of women working in male-dominated professions reported sexual harassment
Why do I need an ally
I am a woman
And I now know I need allies
I was molested for years as a child and as a teenager
I needed allies to heal
I dreaded school because I was fat, my body’s natural way of protecting me
I needed allies to see me through school, so I had a chance at health and safety
I was 9 when my sister committed suicide due to her years of sexual abuse
I needed allies to convince me life can be good
I was told I can’t be an attorney because I must get married and have children
I needed allies to encourage me to provide for myself and graduate college
I see my sisters having less opportunity than I, especially those sisters of color
I need allies to lift up my broken heart
I live in a society with laws that harm myself and my sisters
I need allies to fight against injustice
I am a woman
I have created a socio-economic power that grants me safety
I am a woman
Two entrepreneurial men hired me out of college and provided me with an opportunity in tech and cybersecurity for 21 years
I am a woman
LUCKY to be of the 15% who are truly given equal opportunity and support at work
I am a woman
Who represents 2.3% of women who are the sole founders of a tech company
I am a woman
Who represents the less than 1% of women who have self-funded and solely founded a tech company
I am a woman
I needed allies every step of the way
I am a woman
I long for a day when no human needs allies
I am a woman
I pray that the generations to come will be allies to each other regardless of gender
Until that day, join me, join us, be an ally, stand up for equality, fight for equality and be equality
For if you don’t, my story will be just a rare LUCKY story to be told on stages like this
This is why I need an ally.