Can a shirt prevent violence? Evaluating “Thursdays In Black” as Performative Allyship and/or Accessible Performance of Ecclesial Solidarity

Much criticism has been lodged at performative allyship, which involves superficial appearances of concern that are oriented toward positive perceptions of the so-called “ally.” The concept of performative allyship uses the term “performative” in a colloquial way that indicates a problematic separation between an utterance and its effect, differing from the scholarly usage of the term. Critique of performative allyship will be used as a lens for analysis of the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) “Thursdays in Black” global campaign against gender-based violence. Are there unique elements of this campaign, its global ecclesial context, and the particularities of gender-based violence which render a different perspective on what might initially seem to be simply performative (in the more colloquial sense)? Might participation in the campaign be considered a meaningful “performance” of solidarity, or is it rightly to be dismissed as merely “performative,” benefitting only the public image of leaders who partake?