For decades activists and scholars have complained of sexism among anymal activists. Employing previous scholarship, new data, and critical analysis, Oppressive Liberation explores these accusations.
In Part I, Oppressive Liberation introduces the #MeToo Movement and focuses attention on the interconnected nature of sexism and speciesism using ecofeminist theory, ancient philosophies and religions, and science, and also through a collaborative chapter including the voices of a queer-identified Black researcher, Indian-American professor, Black scholar, and Native American professor. Finally, using four case studies and previously published research and writing, Part I exposes the tendency toward sexism, and forces behind sexism and male privilege, in activist contexts.
Part II of the book provides evidence of sexism among anymal activists, including new data from an online (international) Qualtrics survey (collecting data on the topic since 2017), online testimonials (written at the peak of the #ARMeToo Movement), analysis of key figures and organizations, and recently published allegations in major newspaper outlets.
Part III exposes the many harms of sexism and male privilege, both individual harms and harms to the integrity of the movement, and explores what sorts of changes anymal activists might lobby for inside organizations, across organizations, or as individuals outside of organizations.
Part IV gives voice to the experiences and understandings of marginalized activists, working against the narrowness of the lens of a single author. Linda Alvarez takes an historic look at intersectional oppressions, Doel Rakshitexposes trans antagonism while Geertrui Cazaux exposes sexism and ableism in the movement, and Kadri Aavik describes a feminist run anymal activist organization in Estonia. Finally, A white heterosexual male describes his path from oppressor to working to address multiple forms of oppression.
Expected late in 2021 or early in 2022, Oppressive Liberation
In a world where humans dominate and exploit one another, how can anymal activists possibly bring deep or lasting change for chickens, fishes, sheep, or cows? Anymal liberation is only possible in the context of total liberation.
Oppressive Liberation: Sexism in Animal Activism
Must anymal activists also stand against abortion? Is it consistent to fight for the lives and welfare of anymals but not against abortion? Using the tools of moral philosophy, Abortion and Animal Activism answers this question.
Across time and place, philosophy has not only been about what humans think, but also about what humans do. The tools of philosophy allow us to weigh in on contemporary moral issues in search of greater understanding of real-life conundrums. But philosophy can only point the way—human beings are the ones called upon to live up to conclusions reached through philosophical analysis. This book employs classic tools of philosophy such as casuistry, consistency, and hypothetical scenarios to analyze and respond to a contemporary moral question: Are those who seek to defend anymals obligated to also defend life in the human womb? As a matter of consistency and integrity, it is up to us to follow where reason leads.
One vision of philosophy unfolds in an ivory tower, far removed from the “real world,” where cloistered academics dispute questions like “What is the mind?” and “Can we know what we know?” In this vision, philosophy only rarely and distantly touches our day-to-day lives. In contrast, Socrates was hauled into court, sentenced to death, and executed for questioning religious and moral ideals—for threatening the status quo. This book aligns with Socrates and with applied philosophy.
Abortion and Animal Activism: What does Pro-life Mean?
What if we came to know seascapes like Octopus,
exploring ridges and rocks with rubbery limbs?
What if we crooned and caroled like Cricket,
vibrating melodious on midsummer nights?
What if we went along like Warbler,
flying by the grace of fragile limbs?
What if we were nurtured by nectar like Moth,
living lightly from petals on paper-flutter wings?
And what I really want to know—
what if we were so simple and unsullied?
I watched you scoot a scurrying spider
onto a scrap of paper,
into your protective palm,
and across the living room—
rehoming her
under the protective cover
of our colorful kitchen curtains.
You sheltered that bundle of being
as we might have tended
yellow-banded bumble bees,
western black rhinos—
and so many other
missing persons—
had we understood.
Bach, when he sat at the clavichord
feeling out wonderments like Ave Maria,
could not have found the necessary notes,
had they not previously been dropped
by those such as Marsh Wren,
who trills lively tunes over waiting wetlands,
where Cricket Frog also croons.