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ANIMAL JUSTICE ACTIVISM

Course Information

  • Course Title: Sociology: Big Questions SOC1104 B00 – Winter 2026
  • Lecturer: Prof. Bernatchez
  • Location: School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa
  • Lecture Dates: March 31st and April 2nd
  • Audio/Video Recording Policy: Any audio or video recording is prohibited for the entire duration of this lecture.

Course Evaluation

  • Duration: 15 minutes

Brief Historical Overview of Western Cosmology and the Self

  • Context: Examination of the shift from primal perceptions to modern and late modern understandings of self and world.

Western World Views and Perceptions of Ourselves

  • Richard Tarnas' Framework: Explores various world views throughout history:
      - Self-World Primal World View
      - Self-World Western Religious World View
      - Self-World Modern World View
      - Self-World Late Modern World View
      - Transcendent Divine Principles

Four Human Narcissistic Wounds

  1. Copernican Revolution (14th Century):
       - Earth and humans are no longer perceived as the cosmic center.
  2. Theory of Evolution (Mid-19th Century):
       - Challenges the notion of human exceptionalism; introduces the concept of a hierarchy versus a horizontal continuum.
  3. Psychoanalysis (Early 20th Century):
       - Questions around human rationality and consciousness versus the unconscious mind.
  4. Contemporary Period:
       - Developments in ethology and philosophy prompt scrutiny of 'human' attributes including cognition, emotion, and culture.    - Source Reference: Dardenne, É. (2020). Introduction aux études animales. Presses Universitaires de France.

Critical Animal Studies Schools of Thought

  • Mapper Framework by Matthew Calarco (2015):   - Speciesism:
        - Naturalist schema places animals in a hierarchy between plants and humans.
        - Animals perceived as possessing life and perception (capable of pleasure/pain).
        - Humans with life, perception, self-awareness, culture/politics, and logos (language and rational consciousness).   - Philosophical Contributions:
        - René Descartes: “I think, therefore I am” as a basis of human self-awareness.
        - Charles Darwin: Discussion on cognitive and emotional continuums.
        - Jacques Derrida: Advocacy for “radical diversity” with no hierarchical distinctions among species.
          - Differences recognized, but no anthropocentric hierarchy maintained.       - Concept of the zones of indistinction informed by Gilles Deleuze's work on embodiment, and Val Plumwood's focus on edibility.

Key Concepts: Umwelt and World Views

  • Umwelt:
      - Examines different perspectives of ‘world’ in postmodern contexts.
  • Postmodern Self vs. World

Activism Overview

  • Definition:
      - Individual and collective actions aimed at effecting social change across various arenas (social, political, economic, environmental).
  • Social Movement Characteristics (Based on Rodgers, 2018):
      - Pursuing social change goals with collective identity, cohesive networks, and modern tactics outside formal politics.

Examples of Social Movements

  • Movements include:   - Anarchism
      - Free love
      - Greenpeace
      - Hippie movement
      - Pro-choice initiatives
      - Right to die/euthanasia campaigns
      - Slow food movements
      - Student movements
      - Tea Party activism
      - Vegetarianism/Veganism
      - Women’s suffrage
      - Animal Liberation Front

Goals of Activism

  • Objective:
      - Change public perception on societal issues considered unjust, leading individuals to adopt behaviors seen as ‘just.’

Continuum of Tactics (Rodgers, 2018)

  • Tactics Range from Low Disruption/Risk to High Disruption/Risk:   1. Education and Persuasion   2. Legal Mobilization   3. Demonstrations   4. Confrontation and Civil Disobedience   5. Direct Action and Property Damage

Specific Activism Examples and Tactics

  • Education and Persuasion:   - Me Too movement: Combatting sexual assault and harassment.   - Anonymous for the Voiceless: Focus on animal welfare and truth in consumption.
  • Legal Mobilization:
      - Advocacy for women’s rights and climate justice through legal and institutional frameworks.
  • Demonstrations:
      - Examples: Black Lives Matter, Veganism protests.
  • Confrontation and Civil Disobedience:
      - Instances of organized resistance such as the Kanesatake Resistance (Oka Crisis).
  • Direct Action and Property Damage:
      - Movements such as Just Stop Oil, and active participation of the Animal Liberation Front.

Definitions

  • Veganism:
      - Commitment to exclude all animal products and by-products from lifestyle choices across diet, clothing, and entertainment; driven by ethical concerns, health benefits, and environmental respect.
  • Animal Protection:
      - Initiatives ensuring welfare and safety of animals, spearheaded by humane societies and SPCA to prevent cruelty.
  • Animal Rights:
      - A philosophy asserting that animals possess rights comparable to human rights, advocating against exploitation in various fields like food production and research.
  • Animal Liberation:
      - Social movement aimed at ending the classification of animals as property and advocating for their liberation through direct action.
  • Animal Justice:
      - Integrates principles of justice in animal treatment and calls for legal reforms recognizing animal interests on par with human interests.

Politics of Sight and Bearing Witness

  • Concept:
      - Strategy of making hidden sufferings visible to provoke social change.
  • Farm Occupation Tactics:   1. Demanding rights and justice;
      2. Documenting and exposing animal suffering through non-violent means, such as live-streaming.   3. Integrating into mainstream media narratives and being prepared for arrests.

Case Studies and Examples of Activism

  • Meat the Victims (2019): Engaged community on social justice issues regarding animal suffering via evidence-based protests.
  • Rose’s Law (Animal Bill of Rights):
      - Advocacy for legal recognition of sentient beings in protection against oppression and slavery; emphasizing the rights to autonomy, not exploitation, and protection within habitats.
  • Canadian Farm Trials (Various): Documenting instances of animal welfare abuses in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario through legal challenges and activism.

Mass Media

  • Role in Activism: Examines if mass media supports or undermines animal activism through portrayal and representation.
  • Consequences of Media Manipulation:
      - How biased coverage influences public opinion and activism viability.   

Suppression of Dissent Overview

  • Author: Jules Boykoff critiques how states suppress dissent and how media influences perceptions of activists.

Mass Media's Modes of Suppression

  1. Manipulation: Covert operations vilifying activists, creating moral challenges for mobilization.
  2. Bi-level Demonization: Usage of gray propaganda linking activists to threats, fostering societal division.
  3. Deprecation: Ridicule and selective portrayal undermining activist efforts.
  4. Underestimation: Minimizing event sizes and misrepresentation damaging activism credibility.

Representations of Farm Occupations in Canada

  • Academic Analysis: Bernatchez critiques media representations and highlights impact on activism credibility and support.
  • Consequences of misreporting include diminishing activist reputations and external support.

Protecting Animals as Deviant Behavior

  • History: Historical view of animal protection attitudes; perceived as a deviance, linking it to mental health issues.
  • Modern Perspective: Shift in understanding towards zoophilia as mere paraphilia, how advocacy has evolved, recognizing a broad spectrum of mental health influences involved.

Our Perception of Social Issues and Activists

  • The interplay of media narratives shapes societal views towards activism, often reinforcing stereotypes and biases.
  • Importance of correct representations to mitigate discrimination against activists and their causes.

From Categorization to Discrimination

  • Social Psychology Framework:   - How initial categorization leads to stereotypes, ultimately influencing prejudice and resulting in discriminatory behaviors.