DOCSLIB.ORG

Dissertation Kathryn Asher

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

IS THE PERFECT THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD? THE ROLE OF DIETARY CHOICES, PERCEPTIONS, AND EXPERIENCES IN MEAT CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN THE U.S. by Kathryn Asher MES, York University, 2006; BA, St. Thomas University, 2003 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Academic Unit of Sociology Supervisor: Paul Peters, PhD, Department of Sociology Examining Board: Gabriela Tymowski-Gionet, PhD, Faculty of Kinesiology, Chair Gary Bowden, PhD, Department of Sociology Neeru Gupta, PhD, Department of Sociology External Examiner: Jessica Greenebaum, PhD, Department of Sociology, Central Connecticut State University This dissertation is accepted by the Dean of Graduate Studies THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK June 2017 © Kathryn Asher 2017 ABSTRACT Despite decades of promotion, rates of vegetarianism have changed minimally in the U.S. In part due to this slow growth rate, farmed animal advocates are divided about whether encouraging meat elimination or meat reduction (and which type) is best. Following Voltaire’s assertion that the perfect can be the enemy of the good, this research explores whether vegetarianism (the perfect) may be the enemy of the good for realizing advocates’ desired social movement outcomes in American society around meat and farmed animals. This dissertation, drawing on applied sociology and positioned at the intersection of effective altruism, social movement outcomes, the sociology of food, and dietary behaviour change, examines this research question and speaks to whether social movements should ask for intermediate steps or focus on their desired end goal. This dissertation engages with an effective animal advocacy lens—a subset of effective altruism—to study the current and future potential impact of three diets promoted to varying degrees by U.S. advocates: a vegetarian diet, a reduced-meat diet, and a chicken-free diet (per the problem of smaller-bodied animals). Quantitative methods were used to consider how these diets can help this social movement “do the most good,” a key tenet of effective altruism. Data was collected from an online census- balanced cross-sectional sample of 30,000+ U.S. adults provided by Nielsen in 2016. Results showed a reduced-meat diet had the highest prevalence rate among American adults and the largest number of food opinion leaders based on current as well as future potential eating patterns. A reduced-meat diet was the driver for the greatest number of meat-free meals eaten each week and the largest number of adults this is ii spread amongst, both taking in current and future potential trends. A reduced-meat diet also had the best external perceptions among those who are not restricting their meat consumption. Lived experiences was the one exception, where a vegetarian diet had the best internal experiences among individuals currently eating one of the diets. These findings suggest that there are reasons to infer that a reduced-meat diet may best support an effective animal advocacy approach to U.S. dietary outreach. iii DEDICATION To those doing the work of doing the most good. To the subjects of this work. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am fortunate to have been supported in my research by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral; the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship Program – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement; a Nels Anderson Field-Research Grant from the Department of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick (UNB); a VegFund Merit Award; a donor with fiscal sponsorship provided by Faunalytics; a New Brunswick Innovation Foundation Graduate Scholarship Award; a UNB Magee Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences; and a UNB Faculty of Arts PhD Graduate Assistantship. Many people in the Department of Sociology at UNB supported me through this journey. Foremost is my supervisor Dr. Paul Peters, who took me in during the last few years of my studies and provided a calming presence and knowledgeable sounding board, as well as the members of my dissertation supervisory committee (Dr. Gary Bowden and Dr. Elizabeth Cherry) who helped considerably strengthen the final product. Thanks also to Wanda Birch, Tracy McDonald, Dr. Luc Thériault, Dr. Nick Hardy, Dr. Vanda Rideout, and Dr. Lucia Tramonte for their encouragement, support, and advice over the years. I am grateful for my fellow UNB graduate students— particularly Nathan Thompson and Lisa Thomson—who provided an empathetic environment in which to discuss the public and private matters of doctoral life. I also owe Dr. Niyati Parekh much gratitude for the level of academic and personal support she offered during my visiting scholar appointment at New York University. My v appreciation also to New York University’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies for providing an academic home for me during this residency. Many individuals provided valuable feedback while I was narrowing down my topic area and during the call for feedback on the early research design, including: Matt Ball, Jon Bockman, Greg Boese, Krystal Caldwell, David Coman-Hidy, Nick Cooney, Sabine Doebel, Milena Esherick, Bruce Friedrich, Che Green, Gordon Hodson, Joop Hox, Brian Kateman, Lisa Kramer, Tobias Leenaert, Ginny Messina, Jack Norris, Jacy Reese, Harish Sethu, Allison Smith, and Michael Webermann. Thanks also to Kieran Greig for helping me think through the randomization scheme for the experimental portion of the survey, to Peter Hurford for testing a version of the survey on the Qualtrics platform, and to Dan Crouse and Carolyn Peake for providing early feedback on analytic matters. My thanks to Che Green of Faunalytics who provided a stimulating work home for me during my degree, which provided both a nice break from, and complement to, my doctoral studies. I learned a remarkable amount from my time at Faunalytics, without which my dissertation would be short on methodological rigour and subject matter expertise. Had it not been for Faunalytics, I would not have had the guts to undertake such an extensive data collection mission nor the confidence to know it could be done. Having a tenure as Faunalytics’ research director was a life-changing break for me, which not only changed the trajectory of my career but, in many ways, my life. I would not have started down the PhD path had it not been for my lifelong interest in justice and vulnerable groups, which was given specific purpose when I developed a concern for animal issues as a child. I am not driven to do “research for research sake” and so having the opportunity to take an applied sociology approach to vi my studies gave me a reason to return to academia. The thought experiment of envisioning where my life might be had I not taken this meaningful journey is disquieting for me. Even still, it was never about the self-fulfilling goal of the degree, but rather doing what I could to “do the most good” in the world. I have been fortunate to be inspired and buoyed in my academic efforts by effective altruists and animal advocates alike and whether through their praises or critiques, I have grown considerably as a scholar. No one has inspired me more, however, than the marginalized group I have dedicated my life to bettering. On a personal note, my genuine appreciation to my partner Adam Gilmore, a steady and patient support—my rock—which manifested in many forms from an understanding ear and reassuring force, to seeing me off on my many academic adventures including masterminding my move to New York City. I look forward to sharing new beginnings together on the other side of this PhD as we anticipate the miles ahead. To my dearest cousin, Corey James Asher, who has always shown such genuine enthusiasm in “DrVeg12”—thank you. We would often remark that “no one is more interested in my PhD,” and that was a title he earned with much enthusiasm. His was a listening ear I treasured and leaned on often because nothing seems insurmountable when you can without fail find the hilarity in it with your best friend. My deepest gratitude to my family Jim Asher, Jane Asher, and Elizabeth Asher who provided me with a near-weekly university-adjacent home away from home, which has always been filled with such joy, laughter, stimuli, and character. Its energy and irresistible charm has shaped who I am so fully. Unwinding in the “boudoir” with my sister was my favourite way to spend a school night. My mother, a true dynamo, vii provided reinforcement, comic relief, and an endless supply of home cooking to fuel another day’s work. My father was always at the ready with his wisdom whether it was helping to edit my early papers, sharing advice on teaching, engaging in a lively philosophical debate while holding court in the living room, or offering his signature wave from the front window as I headed off on another day. Thanks finally to my grandmother Rita Garey, who always placed such significance on my doctorate and moved me with her stories of how university was logistically out of reach for her so many years ago despite a sharp and determined mind. Helping care for her during her last few months was the biggest honour of my life, and gave me tremendous perspective about priorities part-way through my degree. The experience left me with a renewed sense of resilience, which made the upward climb of the PhD seem entirely achievable. And thanks to that, and all the other supports and learnings along the way, here I am, on the
Recommended publications
  • Are Illegal Direct Actions by Animal Rights Activists Ethically Vigilante?

    Are Illegal Direct Actions by Animal Rights Activists Ethically Vigilante?

    260 BETWEEN THE SPECIES Is the Radical Animal Rights Movement Ethically Vigilante? ABSTRACT Following contentious debates around the status and justifiability of illegal direct actions by animal rights activists, we introduce a here- tofore unexplored perspective that argues they are neither terrorist nor civilly disobedient but ethically vigilante. Radical animal rights movement (RARM) activists are vigilantes for vulnerable animals and their rights. Hence, draconian measures by the constitutional state against RARM vigilantes are both disproportionate and ille- gitimate. The state owes standing and toleration to such principled vigilantes, even though they are self-avowed anarchists and anti-stat- ists—unlike civil disobedients—repudiating allegiance to the con- stitutional order. This requires the state to acknowledge the ethical nature of challenges to its present regime of toleration, which assigns special standing to illegal actions in defense of human equality, but not equality and justice between humans and animals. Michael Allen East Tennessee State University Erica von Essen Environmental Communications Division Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Volume 22, Issue 1 Fall 2018 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bts/ 261 Michael Allen and Erica von Essen Introduction We explore the normative status of illegal actions under- taken by the Radical Animal Rights Movement (RARM), such as animal rescue, trespass, and sabotage as well as confronta- tion and intimidation. RARM typically characterizes these ac- tions as examples of direct action rather than civil disobedience (Milligan 2015, Pellow 2014). Moreover, many RARM activ- ists position themselves as politically anarchist, anti-statist, and anti-capitalist (Best 2014, Pellow 2014). Indeed, the US and UK take these self-presentations at face value, responding to RARM by introducing increasingly draconian legislation that treats them as terrorists (Best 2014, McCausland, O’Sullivan and Brenton 2013, O’Sullivan 2011, Pellow 2014).
  • L'antispécisme

    L'antispécisme

    L'ANTISPÉCISME LA QUESTION DES DROITS DES ANIMAUX Travail de maturité Ileana CREUTZ 4H Maître accompagnant : M. Boris Ducrocq COLLÈGE VOLTAIRE GENÈVE 2020-2021 Table des matières Introduction................................................................................................................... 2 1. Les approches philosophiques antispécistes 1.1. L'utilitarisme de Peter Singer................................................................................. 4 1.2. La théorie des droits de Tom Regan....................................................................... 6 1.3. La philosophie politique de Sue Donaldson et Will Kymlicka............................... 9 2. Les mouvements citoyens pour les droits des animaux 2.1. Les différences de stratégie.................................................................................. 13 2.2. Le « Projet Grands Singes » de Paola Cavalieri et Peter Singer........................... 16 2.3. La situation des droits des animaux en Suisse...................................................... 19 Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 22 Bilan personnel........................................................................................................... 27 Interview..................................................................................................................... 28 Bibliographie.............................................................................................................
  • "Go Veg" Campaigns of US Animal Rights Organizations

    "Go Veg" Campaigns of US Animal Rights Organizations

    Society and Animals 18 (2010) 163-182 brill.nl/soan Framing Animal Rights in the “Go Veg” Campaigns of U.S. Animal Rights Organizations Carrie Packwood Freeman Georgia State University [email protected] Abstract How much do animal rights activists talk about animal rights when they attempt to persuade America’s meat-lovers to stop eating nonhuman animals? Th is study serves as the basis for a unique evaluation and categorization of problems and solutions as framed by fi ve major U.S. animal rights organizations in their vegan/food campaigns. Th e fi ndings reveal that the organiza- tions framed the problems as: cruelty and suff ering; commodifi cation; harm to humans and the environment; and needless killing. To solve problems largely blamed on factory farming, activists asked consumers to become “vegetarian” (meaning vegan) or to reduce animal product con- sumption, some requesting “humane” reforms. While certain messages supported animal rights, promoting veganism and respect for animals’ subject status, many frames used animal welfare ideology to achieve rights solutions, conservatively avoiding a direct challenge to the dominant human/animal dualism. In support of ideological authenticity, this paper recommends that vegan campaigns emphasize justice, respect, life, freedom, environmental responsibility, and a shared animality. Keywords animal rights, campaigns, farm animal, framing, ideology, vegan, vegetarian How much do or should animal rights activists talk about animal rights when they attempt to persuade America’s meat-lovers to stop eating animals? As participants in a counterhegemonic social movement, animal rights organiza- tions are faced with the discursive challenge of redefi ning accepted practices, such as farming and eating nonhuman animals, as socially unacceptable practices.
  • Givedirectly

    Givedirectly

    GiveDirectly GiveDirectly provides unconditional cash transfers using cell phone technology to some of the world’s poorest people, as well as refugees, urban youth, and disaster victims. They also are currently running a historic Universal Basic Income initiative, delivering a basic income to 20,000+ people in Kenya in a 12-year study. United States (USD) Donate to GiveDirectly Please select your country & currency. Donations are tax-deductible in the country selected. Founded in Moved Delivered cash to 88% of donations sent to families 2009 US$140M 130K in poverty families Other ways to donate We recommend that gifts up to $1,000 be made online by credit card. If you are giving more than $1,000, please consider one of these alternatives. Check Bank Transfer Donor Advised Fund Cryptocurrencies Stocks or Shares Bequests Corporate Matching Program The problem: traditional methods of international giving are complex — and often inefficient Often, donors give money to a charity, which then passes along the funds to partners at the local level. This makes it difficult for donors to determine how their money will be used and whether it will reach its intended recipients. Additionally, charities often provide interventions that may not be what the recipients actually need to improve their lives. Such an approach can treat recipients as passive beneficiaries rather than knowledgeable and empowered shapers of their own lives. The solution: unconditional cash transfers Most poverty relief initiatives require complicated infrastructure, and alleviate the symptoms of poverty rather than striking at the source. By contrast, unconditional cash transfers are straightforward, providing funds to some of the poorest people in the world so that they can buy the essentials they need to set themselves up for future success.
  • Living Among Meat Eaters : the Vegetarians Survival Handbook Pdf, Epub, Ebook

    Living Among Meat Eaters : the Vegetarians Survival Handbook Pdf, Epub, Ebook

    LIVING AMONG MEAT EATERS : THE VEGETARIANS SURVIVAL HANDBOOK PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Carol Adams | 336 pages | 09 Oct 2003 | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC | 9780826415530 | English | London, United Kingdom Living among Meat Eaters : The Vegetarians Survival Handbook PDF Book This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. Increasingly, in the last twenty-five and more years, this boundary is being challenged by environmentalists, animal activists, and mystics. In this regard we were absorbing the commonly-held values of Western culture, in which virtually anything nonhuman on the planet was either a "resource," or property, or potential property. Transforming the Fisheries. At least not in a very long time. Second, many of the "solutions" seem passive aggressive rather than helpful. Further, she creates the "A" category, which creates an idea of white male supremacy in a civilized society, whereas the other in this sense, includes language that relates to different races, non-human animals, and women. Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. Other donations to offset the cost of the domain name, server and advertising notices are welcome. I am a vegetarian and work in a library, and I recently encountered this book: Living among meat eaters: the vegetarian's survival handbook by Carol J. Repeat, then transfer to a blender. I won my jokester uncle over with a joke I found on the internet: Q: How many vegetarians does it take to eat a cow? Timeline First-wave Second-wave timeline Third-wave Fourth-wave. Jun 29, Nan rated it did not like it Shelves: non-fiction.
  • Towards AI Welfare Science and Policies

    Towards AI Welfare Science and Policies

    big data and cognitive computing Article Towards AI Welfare Science and Policies Soenke Ziesche 1 and Roman Yampolskiy 2,* 1 Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology, Maldives National University, Male’ 20067, Maldives; [email protected] 2 Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-960-789-9304 Received: 24 November 2018; Accepted: 21 December 2018; Published: 27 December 2018 Abstract: In light of fast progress in the field of AI there is an urgent demand for AI policies. Bostrom et al. provide “a set of policy desiderata”, out of which this article attempts to contribute to the “interests of digital minds”. The focus is on two interests of potentially sentient digital minds: to avoid suffering and to have the freedom of choice about their deletion. Various challenges are considered, including the vast range of potential features of digital minds, the difficulties in assessing the interests and wellbeing of sentient digital minds, and the skepticism that such research may encounter. Prolegomena to abolish suffering of sentient digital minds as well as to measure and specify wellbeing of sentient digital minds are outlined by means of the new field of AI welfare science, which is derived from animal welfare science. The establishment of AI welfare science serves as a prerequisite for the formulation of AI welfare policies, which regulate the wellbeing of sentient digital minds. This article aims to contribute to sentiocentrism through inclusion, thus to policies for antispeciesism, as well as to AI safety, for which wellbeing of AIs would be a cornerstone.
  • October 26, 2014

    October 26, 2014

    Animal Charity Evaluators Board of Directors Meeting Type of Meeting: Standard Monthly Meeting Date: October 26, 2014 In attendance: Chairperson: Simon Knutsson Treasurer: Brian Tomasik Secretary: Rob Wiblin Board Member: Sam Bankman­Fried Board Member: Peter Singer Board Member: S. Greenberg Executive Director: Jon Bockman Absent: Quorum established: Yes 1. Call to order: SK called the meeting to order at 9:05 am PST 2. Important questions document 1. In the philosophy document (and in the important questions document and the strategy plan, which refer to it): a. Edit the part about veganism, which can be seen as a method for benefiting animals rather than a vision or a philosophical position. b. Edit the part about wild animal suffering. The challenge is to balance bringing up an important idea with making a good impression on those who are not already aware of it or interested in it. Some board members think that we have been giving it too much space in these documents and others think it warrants that level of space because of the importance of the issue. i. Could interview others about wild animal suffering or invite them to guest blog about it. c. Improve general writing quality based on the comments from the board. 2. Consider writing a report that is as objective as possible on the important questions. 3. PS can help getting academics interested in effective animal activism. a. Has a contact at the Animal Studies Initiative at NYU – maybe this person could organize a conference b. Researchers studying persuasion might be interested (ACE or PS can encourage them) 4.
  • Wild Animal Suffering and Vegan Outreach

    Wild Animal Suffering and Vegan Outreach

    Paez, Eze (2016) Wild animal suffering and vegan outreach. Animal Sentience 7(11) DOI: 10.51291/2377-7478.1101 This article has appeared in the journal Animal Sentience, a peer-reviewed journal on animal cognition and feeling. It has been made open access, free for all, by WellBeing International and deposited in the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Animal Sentience 2016.087: Paez Commentary on Ng on Animal Suffering Wild animal suffering and vegan outreach Commentary on Ng on Animal Suffering Eze Paez Department of Legal, Moral and Political Philosophy Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Abstract: Ng’s strategic proposal seems to downplay the potential benefits of advocacy for wild animals and omit what may be the most effective strategy to reduce the harms farmed animals suffer: vegan outreach. Eze Paez, lecturer in moral and political philosophy at Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, studies normative and applied ethics, especially ontological and normative aspects of abortion and the moral consideration of nonhuman animals. He is a member of Animal Ethics. upf.academia.edu/ezepaez Underestimating the importance of wild animal suffering. Ng’s (2016) view is not that animal advocates should focus only on farmed animals, to the exclusion of those that live in the wild. He concedes that our efforts must also be directed toward raising awareness of the harms suffered by animals in nature. Nonetheless, he seems to suggest that these efforts should be minimal relative to those devoted to reducing the harms farmed animals suffer. Ng underestimates the potential benefits of advocacy for wild animals in terms of net reduction in suffering perhaps because he is overestimating people’s resistance to caring about wild animals and to intervening in nature on their behalf.
  • Global Journal of Animal Law

    Global Journal of Animal Law

    GLOBAL JOURNAL OF ANIMAL LAW A journal to promote human understanding of nonhumans’ legal status Volume 5, Issue 1, 2017 (September 5, 2017) Special Issue Based on the “Talking Animals, Law and Philosophy” Talk Series Organised at the University of Cambridge Publisher: Åbo Akademi University/Department of Law Editor-in-Chief: Visa AJ Kurki; Special Issue Editor: Raffael N Fasel Advisory Board: Professor Markku Suksi, Åbo Akademi University; Professor Anne Kumpula, University of Turku; Professor Matti Niemivuo, University of Lapland; Professor Matti J Tolvanen, University of Eastern Finland; Professor Teresa Giménez-Candela, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Professor David Bilchitz, University of Johannesburg; Professor Peter Sankoff, University of Alberta; Professor Joan E Schaffner, The George Washington University; Mr Jan-Harm de Villiers, University of South Africa Table of Contents TALKING ANIMALS, LAW, PHILOSOPHY – AND BEYOND (Raffael N Fasel) 3 1. Introduction 3 2. Talking Animals, Law and Philosophy 5 3. Overview of this special issue 7 SUFFERING IN NON-HUMAN ANIMALS: Perspectives from Animal Welfare Science and Animal Welfare Law (Peter Fordyce) 12 1. Introduction 13 2. The legal recognition of sentience in animals 16 3. What really matters to animals – Motivational research and ethograms 20 4. Welfare, sentience, emotions and feelings 29 1 Global Journal of Animal Law, Vol 5, No 1 (2017) 5. Freedoms, needs and welfare assessment systems 33 6. Conclusions and summary 39 Glossary of terms 41 References 47 FROM INSIDE THE CAGE TO OUTSIDE THE BOX: Natural Resources as a Platform for Nonhuman Animal Personhood in the U.S. and Australia (Randall S Abate and Jonathan Crowe) 54 1.
  • Vegan Diet Leaflet

    Vegan Diet Leaflet

    Nuts & Seeds - A small handful of mixed nuts and seeds eaten every day is a great nutrition a well balanced boost. Some nuts have valuable nutrients (like selenium) not common to other foods. Includes: Almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, brazil nuts, vegan diet walnuts and sesame seeds A well-balanced vegan diet includes a wide variety of whole- grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. other essential nutrients For more comprehensive information on optimal plant-based nutrition, making the transition to plant-based meals, key nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding and how and what Vitamin B12 There are no reliable plant-based food sources of vitamin B12. Vegans must to feed vegan kids we recommend the book Vegan for Life by get vitamin B12 from fortified foods or a supplement. Vitamin B12 is critical dieticians and long-time vegans Jack Norris and Virginia Messina. for nervous system, mental health and red blood cell health. “A vegan diet is a great choice for your health, for the environment and for the animals.” Iron Grains 6+ Iron is critical for helping to transport oxygen to every cell in the body to produce energy so each cell can perform its vital function. 6 or more servings per day (a serving is ½ cup cooked). Good food sources of iron include legumes (peanuts, beans, lentils, peas), Includes: wheat, oats, buckwheat, rice, corn and quinoa. nuts and seeds (cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds), Choose whole grains as refined grains have lost valuable nutrients. Whole dried apricots, raisins, and rolled oats. grains are high in fibre and provide protein, minerals and B vitamins.
  • Working with Vegan Clients, 2013

    Working with Vegan Clients, 2013

    BY MarIsa Moore ast year, approximately 5 percent of American adults identified themselves as Lvegetarians — essentially unchanged from the 6 percent who were vegetarians in 1999 and 2001 — and fewer than 3 percent were vegan. However, Americans are incorporating more meatless meals into their diets, and plant- based lifestyles are garnering more attention, and arguably more acceptance, in mainstream culture. Ethics, environment and personal health are the most commonly cited motivations for adopting a strict vegetarian or vegan lifestyle in Western populations, and people who became vegan at a younger age cite ethical and environmental concerns as their primary motivations. While there are a number of other reasons why people are vegan or vegetarian — culture, religion and taste preference among them — ethical veganism is the intersection of animal liberation, human rights and environmental conservation. Vegans follow a plant-based diet with no animal flesh, eggs or dairy products. They also may exclude honey, leather goods or other products that compromise the lives or welfare of living creatures, opting instead for alternatives that support a nonviolent existence. The philosophy that animals have the right to a pain-free existence can be powerful Graphic courteSY OF VeganShirt.com. motivation. Carolyn Tampe, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, who has been vegan since YOU May NOT BE VEGAN, BUT YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND VEGAN Counseling a Conscious Choice 12 Food & Nutrition Magazine • JULY/AUGUST 2013 BY MarIsa Moore the age of 12, says going vegan sends a “Being vegan is very important VEGAN DIETS AND EATING DISORDERS: message. “It’s a protest against the meat to them.
  • Animal Rights Is a Social Justice Issue

    Animal Rights Is a Social Justice Issue

    WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository 2015 Animal Rights is a Social Justice Issue Robert C. Jones California State University, Chico, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/anirmov Part of the Animal Studies Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, and the Politics and Social Change Commons Recommended Citation Jones, R. C. (2015). Animal rights is a social justice issue. Contemporary Justice Review, 18(4), 467-482. This material is brought to you for free and open access by WellBeing International. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Animal Rights is a Social Justice Issue Robert C. Jones California State University – Chico KEYWORDS animal rights, animal liberation, animal ethics, sentience, social justice, factory farming, industrialized agriculture ABSTRACT The literature on social justice, and social justice movements themselves, routinely ignore nonhuman animals as legitimate subjects of social justice. Yet, as with other social justice movements, the contemporary animal liberation movement has as its focus the elimination of institutional and systemic domination and oppression. In this paper, I explicate the philosophical and theoretical foundations of the contemporary animal rights movement, and situate it within the framework of social justice. I argue that those committed to social justice – to minimizing violence, exploitation, domination, objectification, and oppression – are equally obligated to consider the interests of all sentient beings, not only those of human beings. Introduction I start this essay with a discouraging observation: despite the fact that the modern animal1 rights movement is now over 40 years old, the ubiquitous domination and oppression experienced by other- than-human animals has yet to gain robust inclusion in social justice theory or practice.