University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- 2021 Stock Shows and Rodeos: The Crossroads of Commodification, Consumption, and Care of Nonhuman Animals Erin Kidder University of Central Florida Part of the Sociology of Culture Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020 University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Kidder, Erin, "Stock Shows and Rodeos: The Crossroads of Commodification, Consumption, and Care of Nonhuman Animals" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-. 710. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/710 STOCK SHOWS AND RODEOS: THE CROSSROADS OF COMMODIFICATION, CONSUMPTION, AND CARE OF NONHUMAN ANIMALS by ERIN N. KIDDER B.S. University of Texas at San Antonio, 2012 M.S. University of Texas at San Antonio, 2015 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Sociology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term 2021 Major Professor: Elizabeth Grauerholz © 2021 Erin N. Kidder ii ABSTRACT This study explores the complex relationship between humans and nonhuman animals through the lens of stock shows and rodeos (SSR). This study employs a feminist theoretical framework and an interpretive qualitative research methodology to gain insight into the ways in which humans practice a range of speciesist behaviors relating to their commodification, consumption, and care of other animals. Data consist of semi- structured interviews with 21 individuals who participate in SSR as spectators and competitors and with two animal medical experts, along with field observations at three different SSR held in Florida and Texas. Findings suggest that nonhuman animals serve many of the same roles beyond the stock show and rodeo, such as companions, competitive athletes, workers, food, and clothing. An analysis of the environment and culture of SSR exposes forms of leisure, entertainment, and competition where nonhuman animals are involuntary participants within an animal sport and entertainment complex constructed by humans. In addition, this human construction is tied to a romanticized version of frontier culture. Additional analysis shows that commodification of animal bodies and consumption of those bodies as entertainment, food, and clothing, is necessary in the maintenance of this animal sport and entertainment complex. Finally, findings support the notion that humans love and care for nonhuman animals, however, that love and care is contingent upon the value of the animal. This study helps build upon the scholarship regarding human-nonhuman animal studies, including in sports and entertainment, and it illuminates the ways in which other animals are social actors subject to similar structural controls and constraints as humans. iii Key Terms: nonhuman animals, speciesism, commodification, consumption, care iv To my family, friends, and companion animals, I dedicate this dissertation to you all, from the bottom of my heart. This was not a solo journey; rather, it was a journey whereby you offered your love, support, and encouragement. More importantly, you provided unwavering belief in my ability to achieve this dream and for that I am grateful. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing a dissertation is a challenge that no one person takes on without the support and guidance of numerous others. I would like to thank several people who have helped make this challenging journey achievable. Dr. Liz Grauerholz, my dissertation chair, has been my mentor and advisor since arriving to UCF and from an academic perspective, it was a match made in heaven for me. I have felt supported since day one and am fortunate to have gained a wonderful friend who shares so many of my values. It is Dr. Grauerholz’s guidance and often calming and compassionate words that helped me to keep my sanity during the most challenging days in this PhD program. I would also like to thank the other members of my dissertation committee, each of whom provided their own unique perspectives and support. Dr. Amanda Koontz is one of the first professors I met upon arriving to UCF and I was fortunate to immediately become her teaching assistant during my first semester. Working with Dr. Koontz led to my deep interest in our consumer culture, which is something that I have incorporated into my ongoing work. Dr. Mike Armato, another committee member, has so graciously shared his enthusiasm for theory. I did not think I could get more interested in theory, but Dr. Armato’s knowledge and passion for the subject indeed spilled over. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Colter Ellis, who served as my outside committee member. When it was time to select an outside committee member, I had no doubt that our shared interests and Dr. Colter’s knowledge in the human-nonhuman animal relationship would be critical to my success. I was right. The dissertation certainly is not the only part of this experience. I had many classes along the way with several other professors who I would also like to thank: Dr. Elizabeth Mustaine, Dr. Shannon Carter, Dr. Melanie Hinojosa, Dr. Scott Carter, Dr. Jason Ford, and Dr. Jay Corzine. I found great value in each course I took at UCF, and I have learned a great deal from each professor. I promise to make all of you proud to call me a colleague. The same goes for the other professors with whom I did not have class, but who were supportive just the same. This study could not have been done without the study participants, who shall remain anonymous. They were inviting and open and I appreciate their involvement with the study. I will, however, name the two experts, Dr. Ben Espy and Dr. Peter Scheifele, who kindly took time out of their busy schedules to speak with me. They expanded my knowledge in ways that will only benefit me moving forward. Finally, I would like to thank my friends from this UCF Sociology program, especially those of you from Lucky Cohort 13, the name we assigned ourselves as the thirteenth cohort to enter the UCF Sociology PhD program. They all served as my collective rock throughout this journey, along with a few others from previous and subsequent cohorts. What a journey it has been! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ xii LIST OF MEDIA ............................................................................................................. xiii LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................... 8 Sociological and Other Scholarly Coverage of Nonhuman Animals ............................. 8 Nonhuman Animals in Sports ....................................................................................... 12 Livestock Shows, Rodeos, and the Place of Human and Nonhuman Animals............. 19 Rodeos and a Compromised History ........................................................................ 20 Rodeos, Women, and the Nonhuman Animal Connection ....................................... 23 Rodeos, Nonwhite Men, and the Nonhuman Animal Connection............................ 26 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER THREE: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................................. 30 Feminist Standpoint Theory and Material Conditions .................................................. 32 Ecofeminism and a Call to Awareness and Action ....................................................... 37 The Stock Show and Rodeo Community Through a Feminist Lens ............................ 41 CHAPTER FOUR: METHODOLOGY ........................................................................... 46 Rationale for Interpretive Qualitative Study ................................................................. 46 Setting and Data Collection .......................................................................................... 51 Interviews .................................................................................................................. 53 Field Observations .................................................................................................... 59 Analytic Strategy: Coding and Analysis ....................................................................... 62 Statement of Reflexivity ............................................................................................... 65 CHAPTER FIVE: ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE OF STOCK SHOWS AND RODEOS........................................................................................................................... 68 Environment of the Stock Show and Rodeo: Sights, Sounds, and Smells Abound ...... 69 Discussion ....................................................................................................................