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A Zine for Helpers on Navigating Saviourism

Macayla Yan

July 2021

Jump to: Land Acknowledgement / Defining Helper / Table of Contents / Self-Location / Defining Saviourism / Signs of Saviourism / Examples of Saviourism / Elements of Saviourism / Roots of Saviourism / White Supremacy Culture / Harms of Saviourism / Tangible Violence of Saviourism / Alternatives for Engagement / Learning Reflections / Developing an Implementation Plan

Land Acknowledgement

Before delving into the zine, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that I am occupying the ancestral homelands of the lək̓ʷəŋən Nation, which is presently known as the Songhees (songheesnation.ca) and Esquimalt (esquimaltnation.ca) First Nations due to the destructive nature of colonization. As a settler, I am inherently complicit in settler colonialism and thoroughly indebted to the rightful stewards of the land and waters. This acknowledgement cannot take away the violence of my existence here. Instead, it serves as a starting point to orient myself and readers to the work that follows, as well as a statement of accountability to the local Nations. As I breathe into my reflections, I feel the profound losses and resiliencies on this land throughout the generations. The relationships on this territory that predate colonization will continue far past the elimination of settler colonialism.

Whose lands are you on?

I encourage you to also take the time to connect to the lands upon which you are currently situated and the local Nation(s) who have been stewarding the territory for generations. native-land.ca and the website of local Nation(s) are helpful resources. As you reflect on and embody the territory acknowledgement, notice what gets stirred inside you.

Defining Helper

Helpers are people who help others, whether in a formal position or informal relationship. Not all helpers adopt saviourism and not all saviours are helpers, but there is some overlap.

This zine* focuses on professional helpers, such as:

Counsellors/psychologists
Social workers
Educators
Frontline support workers(e.g., with youth, disabled individuals, unhoused folks)

Program developers
Peer support workers
Health care providers

However, it may also be useful for:

Volunteers
Researchers
Nonprofit staff and directors
Friends
Community members
Partners
Family members
Activists/allies
Others?

Where do you fit?

*Zine = self-published magazine, often created by one person or a small group of people on a particular topic of interest. Zines typically possess explicit political stances

I want to take a moment to acknowledge all of the people who helped make this zine possible. Thank you to my mentors, friends, and colleagues who contributed ideas, edits, and words of support. And infinite gratitude to the Elders, community members, scholars, and activists who are foundational to the development of my understandings of these topics. References are in brackets at the bottom of each page. Full list at macayla.info.

Self-Location

Hi there! My name is Macayla, and I'm the author of this zine. I am a Cantonese settler on lək̓ʷəŋən Territory with ancestry from 台山 and 中山. As a settler of colour raised by my immigrant parents and grandparents, I grew up steeped in the worldviews of both my family's culture and mainstream Canadian society, though I actively work to unlearn settler mentality. For the past decade, I have also been privileged enough to receive teachings from Indigenous people locally and internationally, which further influence how I understand and interact with the world. In addition, I am a chronically ill, nonbinary (any pronouns) emerging counsellor, textile artist, advocate, workshop facilitator, youth worker, community member, and friend.

That is called a self-location. Self-locations situate us within broader contexts to give others an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and how we view the world. They also help us remain grounded.

I invite you to consider your self-location

What social identities do you possess? (e.g., gender, race, ability, class, age, etc...)

Where does your ancestry come from?

What is your relationship to the land you live on?

How do you hold power and privilege?

How does this all relate to your role as a helper?

Defining Saviourism

Saviourism can be conceptualized as a relational dynamic wherein the person(s) with more power and privilege "saves" or "rescues" those who hold less power or are viewed as "unfortunate" from negative situations or even themselves.

Saviourism often occurs within existing unequal power structures, including systems of oppression and helper-client relationships. As such, for ethical practice, it must be considered through anti-colonial, socially just frameworks.

Saviourism is also known as: Saviour complex; White knight syndrome; Messiah complex; White saviour complex; White saviour industrial complex

However, the use of "complex" or "syndrome" may position this dynamic as an individual problem when it is part of larger systems and patterns.

Signs of Saviourism

Positioning of the saviour as an expert who must take the lead and does not need to accept direction or guidance from the people they are helping.
Disregard for the oppressive forces that marginalize certain populations.
Neglecting the agency (autonomy) and capabilities of those being served.
Intense desire to "fix" the lives of racialized, Indigenous, disabled, poor, and otherwise oppressed peoples.
Implicit or explicit self-importance and hyper-availability.
Drawn to marginalized peoples.
Drive to help others to fulfill own needs (e.g., to avoid or heal own struggles).

I encourage you to be honest and vulnerable with yourself as you consider where you recognize these signs.

Examples of Saviourism in Action

A white social worker who decides it is their life mission to "rescue" Indigenous and other racialized children from impoverished conditions.
A counsellor who tries to "save" people living with addiction from themselves and their "bad choices."
A program for recent high school graduates to travel to a formerly colonized nation to teach locals about human rights.
A campaign to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities because they are "helpless."
A wealthy psychologist who "parachutes" into poor communities to "fix" their issues.

Add your own examples.

How can you discern between saviourism and being of service to others?

Elements of Saviourism

Mentality: conscious or unconscious beliefs about your role, abilities, responsibilities, and importance, as well as about the people you serve (e.g., they don't know what's best for them)
Narrative: hero stories that glorify people who save those deemed helpless (e.g., Freedom Writers, The Last Samurai, Dances with Wolves)
Ideology: ontological theoretical orientation for making sense of the world and the nature of relationships (e.g., certain people are "needy")
Structure: policies, practices, leadership, power dynamics, and frameworks that shape engagement (e.g., charity models, can occur in public, private, and nonprofit organizations)

As saviourism is not solely a mentality, it is not enough to simply unlearn it.

How do these four elements of saviourism show up in yourself, others, and the systems you live within?

How might you be perpetuating saviourism through (in)action?

Roots of Saviourism

Saviourism can be explained by two different but often interacting processes.

Attachment theory states that when our needs are not met in attachment relationships (e.g., with caregivers or romantic partners), we learn to develop strategies to cope with this struggle. One strategy our nervous systems employ is to try to please or caretake others for attention and approval.

Colonialism is a system of domination where imperial forces objectify and marginalize people through mentalities, narratives, ideologies, and structures to justify land, resource, and labour theft. For example, the "white man's burden" is defined as the task of white people to civilize and save Black and brown people around the world from savagery and ignorance. Much of global colonialism is also founded on Christianity, which espouses strong saviour tropes to legitimize its imposition. Colonial forces construct hierarchies of value and power that determine who is superior and who needs saving.

Note: While attachment experiences may not be relevant, colonialism is always an important factor.

White Supremacy Culture

Colonialism is upheld by white supremacy culture. White supremacy culture is the system of beliefs, norms, standards, values, and practices that positions whiteness as supreme and the measure by which all other people are judged. White supremacy culture is infused in all of the institutions and structures of colonial society.

Individualism = valuing the individual person as the most important unit in society, neglecting our inherent interdependence within larger systems.
I'm the only one = the belief that for something to get done right *I* must control or do it myself.
Qualified = the attitude that those who are qualified (e.g., through education or power) must improve or fix what is "broken."
Paternalism/power hoarding = power is limited and concentrated, and those with power get to make decisions and define standards for those without.
Perfectionism = the belief that people can and should strive to be perfect according to a determined standard or status quo. It can show up as the focus on mistakes or failures as defining a person.
One right way = the belief that there is only one right way to do things and if people do not conform, there is something wrong with them.
Binaries = the assumption of either/or, erasing nuances of life.
Linear progress = valuing success as doing/ being/ achieving more and more such that quantity is prioritized over quality.
Urgency = the practice of seeking immediacy, expediency, and timeliness, often superseding the need for rest, reflection, and breath.
Also notable:
Denial/defensiveness in the face of truth regarding injustice.
Right to comfort for those with power.

As you consider the interconnections of white supremacy culture, how do you relate it to saviourism?

What aspects of white supremacy culture have you internalized and upheld?

Where do you witness white supremacy culture in action?

How does white supremacy culture show up in your practice?

How does white supremacy culture impact your understanding of saviourism?

Harms of Saviourism

Before exploring the harmful effects of saviourism, we must consider intent versus impact. A common element of saviourism is the positioning of the saviour as a "good person" who is "big-hearted" and "well-intentioned." However, intentions may not equal impact of the behaviour. Although we do not want to harm the people we serve, it may be an unintended consequence.

What is your understanding of intent versus impact?

Checking in With Your Body

Recall a time when you or another professional was acting from a place of saviourism. As you remember this situation, notice what happens in your body.

What sensations (e.g., tensions, stirrings, emotions, urges) do you feel?
Where do you feel them?
What textures, weights, or other features do these sensations possess?
What are they trying to communicate to you?

What is it like for you to check in with your body? How does it speak to the effects of saviourism on you as a helper?

Tangible Violence of Saviourism

Perpetuating power relations

Further entrenches power differentials between helpers and the people they serve.
Reinforces larger systemic power dynamics (e.g., colonialism, racism, ableism, etc.).
Emphasizes the expertise of the saviour.
Forces a "power over" situation.

Meeting the needs of the saviour

Tends to be reactive and self-serving rather than intentionally centring those receiving services.
Temporarily fulfills a desire to be needed, important, helpful, liked, valued, validated, etc.
Impacts decision-making, priorities, goals, definitions of success, and the helping relationship.

Harming service receivers

Thrives off of perceived helplessness and dependency.
Potentially leads to resistance/ pathologization of others' assertions of their own power and agency.
Treats clients as the objects of healing/rescuing.

Modelling a damaging way of helping

Normalizes and teaches others saviourism as an acceptable form of helping.
Contributes to the mentalities, narratives, ideologies, and structures of saviourism.

May be explicit and/or implicit

Thoughts, reflections, additions?

Alternatives for Engagement

1. Recognize your own humanity

Take responsibility: honestly reflect on whether you are engaging in saviourism. If yes, slow down with humility (humbleness) and take accountability (see next page).

Identify personal growth areas: take the time to work on respecting your own limits, healing attachment wounds, unlearning internalized superiority, or anything else that may be contributing to your saviourism.

How can you practice accountability? Where are your growing edges?

Accountability is an active, self-directed process that acknowledges all humans make mistakes and are capable of harming another person. In other words, you need to hold yourself accountable even if no one else has confronted you about your behaviour. Accountability is about taking the opportunity to be in just relationships with one another, not punishment.

The four main parts of accountability are:

Self-reflection, which is necessary throughout the process to understand and guide our behaviours
Apologizing, offering a genuine acknowledgement of how you harmed another
Repair, the process of making amends and rebuilding trust
Behaviour change, which can require shifting old habits and is often easier with the support of others

Who can you call on to be on your accountability team, the people in your life with whom you can discuss accountability, mistakes, and how to do better?

2. Honour the humanity of others

Share power: recognize the strengths and power of others by deferring to their expertise, upholding their agency, and following their guidance. Keep in mind your role is to serve, not rescue.

Practice noninterference: a collaborative, consent-based way of being in good relationship that refrains from coercion and releases ownership of outcomes.

What strengths can you identify and draw upon in the people you serve? How do you want to be in relationship with others?

Bring others into this conversation: remember others' capacity to learn and grow, and talk to those around you about saviourism, including colleagues, supervisors, mentees, etc.

Who would you like to discuss this topic with? How can you encourage others to also practice self-accountability? How can you approach the conversation in a way that facilitates respectful engagement?

3. Practice ethically

Holding both: as helping professionals, we must consider both personal and professional ethical guidelines, including codes of ethics and individual/collective values.

The zone of fabulousness: the person-centred space of connection where practitioners do not position themselves too closely (the hero) or detach too distantly (the cynic) from service receivers.

How can you practice more ethically? Who can you consult with?

Mandatory ethics = minimum requirements, often prescribed by professional codes of ethics

Aspirational ethics = optimal moral and ethical behaviour, often more subjective and ideal than mandatory ethics

4. Work towards structural change

Alter the context: hold a multisystemic perspective on individual struggle to understand the necessity for changing the conditions which harm and hinder the people you serve.

Direct action: specific, transformative changes you can make within your direct sphere of influence, such as relationships, policies, practices, etc.

How can you leverage your position, power, and privilege?

Develop relationships of solidarity: become a co-struggler working alongside people in your communities, including team members and the people you serve.

Dismantle systems of oppression: challenge and abolish colonial and violent forces that marginalize and oppress the people you want to serve, as well as advocate for and co-create a more just world.

How can you contribute to change with others? What dreams do you have for your communities?

Learning Reflections

What stood out to you?

What strengths do you bring to this learning?

Where do you want to expand your learnings?

What do you want to change within yourself?

Within your relationships?

Within larger systems and structures?

Developing an Implementation Plan

Use this space to slow down and map out the ways of being, doing, and relating that you want to embody.