Wicked, Glinda, and Conditional Allyship
What does Glinda and Elphaba's relationship teach us about true, unconditional allyship?
For the last few weeks, Wicked has taken the world by storm. Its themes of bravery, belonging, social rejection, and inequality have sparked a host of important conversations across social media.
There is so much to glean from Wicked’s compelling and engaging storytelling. From Elphaba’s ostracization from her peers, we see the tragic reality that people try to increase their sense of popularity and belonging by “othering” those who are different from them. Wicked also invites us to consider how we, as a collective society, decide what is good and what is evil.
From race to gender to sexuality to religion, there’s so much to explore concerning Wicked’s powerful themes. However, I think one of Wicked’s most practical lessons is the cost and power of allyship.
Conditional Allyship
In Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba become an unlikely duo. Their relationship begins when Glinda bullies Elphaba for her differences while secretly envying Elphaba’s magical powers and unflappable sense of self.
Eventually, Glinda and Elphaba form a true friendship and with Glinda’s support and care, Elphaba becomes socially accepted and builds new community. However, Glinda’s friendship with Elphaba is conditional — it can only exist so long as it does not challenge Glinda’s social status and approval.
In the end, when Glinda’s support of Elphaba begins to chip away at Glinda’s social standing within Oz, Glinda chooses to reject Elphaba in favor of staying in the good graces of the Wizard.
This is conditional allyship, a type of allyship that only exists so long as the ally feels systemically protected.
Conditional allyship often leaves marginalized people and communities in the lurch when the going gets tough.
Some examples of conditional allyship are:
Many NFL players refused to kneel alongside Colin Kaepernick because it would challenge their careers.
Organizations and individuals denied the genocide in Palestine in order to maintain money, power, and social standing.
In workplaces, conditional allyship can look like not calling out an incident because it may change how one’s boss or colleagues see them. When dominant colleagues, particularly white colleagues, stay silent to protect their social standing, harm is reproduced.
There are many forms of conditional allyship. When we stay silent in the face of injustice in favor of protecting our sense of status, we are being conditional allies.
Moving Towards Unconditional Allyship
The reality is that allyship CAN be scary. It is scary to stand up and say “this is wrong” especially when it can challenge our sense of belonging and social standing.
Yet, we must remember that marginalized people must do this brave work every day. When we choose to shrink away from conflict due to our own fears, we are creating a world where those harmed by systemic injustice must also muster the bravery to combat it alone.
This is unjust.
In the Inner Work of Social Justice Professor Rhonda V. Magee says,
“[A foundational trait of social justice work] is steadfastness, the capacity to stay in the struggle. It is the will and the ability to turn towards the difficult…even when it involves uncertainty, tension, and conflict.”
Unconditional allyship is the practice of committing ourselves to fostering a justice-centered and inclusive world, even when it costs us something. When we lose clout as a result of our allyship, we have truly lost anything!
Instead, we have gained a deeper connection to our values, integrity, and the humanity we share with others. True allyship enriches our lives by aligning our actions with our principles and by standing in solidarity with those who face injustice. It builds authentic relationships, fosters trust, and contributes to a legacy of equity and collective liberation.
Examples of unconditional allyship:
Professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe kneeled, before every single soccer game in solidarity with Black communities.
College basketball Hailey Van Lith calling out the media for their treatment of her Black teammates.
Justin Baldoni constantly speaks up for women’s rights and experiences via his podcast.
In the examples above, each ally was willing to lose power and social status in order to show up for others!
Want to be an unconditional ally? Here are some reflection questions to consider!
Why do I want to be an ally, and what motivates me to take action?
Am I willing to engage in allyship even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable?
How do I define success in my allyship?
How do I make my allyship growth-centered and not perfection-centered?
Thanks so much for reading!!
Here’s what I am up to this winter:
Finalizing a major focus group study with a large institution concerning employee well-being.
Running an open workshop on Race, Religion, and Policy. Sign up here!
My books are open for the Winter/Spring and I’d love to work with you or your organization. To work with my organization, send me an email at admin@ciarrajoneconsulting.