Animal Rights

Animal Ethics

Alliances between advocates of feminism and animal rights have demonstrated the connection between sexism and speciesism or the belief that one's own species is superior to other groups. They argue that to end violence against women, society must also end violence against animals. Ecofeminism, which is based on the belief that there is a relationship between the oppression of women and the domination of the environment, has demonstrated that women have historically been associated with animals. Society devalues animals and through a process of association women are devalued and treated as second-class citizens. Violence against animals has become normalized in society in the same way that violence against women is often ignored. Feminist animal rights activists also attack traditionally male social activities including hunting, fishing and grilling, arguing they rely on the subordination of animals and the glorification of violence against animals.

Carol Adams and Ingrid Newkirk have led the way on animal rights activism. Newkirk cofounded the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 1980 and now serves as the organization's president. She also is an author who has written numerous books and articles exposing the violent treatment of animals in laboratories and homes. PETA is the largest global [Page 68]animal rights organization with more than 2 million members and supporters. It creates ad campaigns that oppose the use of fur and leather in the fashion industry, the consumption of meat and dairy, hunting, bull fighting, and animal testing. PETA chose actress, comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as its Woman of the Year in 2009 for promoting her vegan lifestyle on her talk show and Website.

Carol Adams has been at the forefront of feminist animal ethics. Her book, The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory, called attention to the important interconnections between animals and women. Adams developed the notion of the “absent referent” to explain why humans consume meat. For Adams, the absent referent describes how people are detached from the actual animal they consume by conceiving of it as meat, which allows them to continue to support the slaughter of animals. Therefore, if humans were connected to the animals they consume they would reduce their consumption of meat. Adam's book traces the historical connections between meat consumption and the promotion of masculine identity. Her conclusion argues that vegetarianism and feminism go hand in hand.

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