Oppressive Liberation : Sexism in Animal Activism

While explicitly set against a backdrop of sexism in social justice activism more generally, this book exposes causes, pervasiveness, harms, and possible directions for change with regard to sexism and male privilege in the animal activist movement. Employing the work of previous scholars, Dr. Lisa Kemmerer exposes the commonplace nature and causes of sexism and male privilege in social justice activism, then focuses on anymal activists, including new data that has not previously been published. The book also explores the crushing harms caused by sexism in the movement and an extensive array of possible directions for change. In various places throughout the text, Kemmerer refocuses on the interface of sexism and speciesism, and one full chapter explores a philosophies of interconnection from around the world and down through time. Also included are six essays from contributing authors who offer fresh angles on the topic, and who provide contextualized experiences with intersectional oppressions. While the book focuses specifically on animal activism, the end-goal of the book is total liberation―an end to all forms of privilege and marginalization. Acknowledgements 7 Contents 9 List of Figures 12 List of Tables 13 Chapter 1: Introduction: Speciesism, Sexism, and Male Privilege 14 Feminism and Animal Activism 16 Sexism 18 Male Privilege 19 Speciesism and Human Privilege 21 Sexism and Speciesism 23 #MeToo Movement and #ARMeToo Movement 27 Word Choice as Activism 31 Definitions 33 Words Rejected/Replaced 33 Novel Referent: “Anymal” 36 Word Clarification—Referencing the Anymal Activist Movement 37 Novel Referent: Intersectionality, Appropriation, and “Interfacing Oppressions” 41 Talking About Binaries 41 About This Book 42 End Goals 44 Part I: A Wide-Angle View of Interconnected Oppressions 46 Chapter 2: Interconnections: Theory, Myth, and Science 47 Ecofeminism 48 Dualism Among Anymal Activists: Misanthropy and Misogyny 52 Dualism and the Interface of Sexism and Speciesism 54 Estranged Siblings 57 Religious Worldviews 60 Ancient Indian and Chinese Philosophies and Religions 60 Ancient and Contemporary Indigenous Philosophies and Religions 63 Ancient Jewish, Christian, Islamic Philosophies and Religions 65 Science 67 Concluding Remarks 69 Chapter 3: Whiteness as Norm, Intersectionality, and Interfacing Oppressions 71 Intersectionality 72 A Collaborative, Critical Examination of a White Author Writing About Sexism 75 Examining “Intersectionality” Among White Activists 75 White Women Writing About Sexism 76 Verdict: Why and How White Women Might Legitimately Write About (Non-Intersectional) Sexism 77 Qualified “Yes” Regarding a White Women Addressing Sexism 78 Concluding Remarks 79 Chapter 4: The “Why” of Sexism in Social Justice Movements 80 Competition and Conflict Versus Solidarity 81 Gender Norms 81 Toxic Masculinity and Rape Culture 82 Four Case Studies: Sexism and Male Privilege in Social Justice Movements 84 1. Anymal Activist Movement, United States/Overseas, 2009–2010 (“Testimonials” n.p., #15) 84 2. Environmental Movement, Oregon, 2005 86 3. Tenant’s Rights Movement, Boston/Caribbean, 1996 87 4. Freedom Summer/s, Mississippi, 1964 (and 1965) 88 II. Why Sexism in Social Justice Movements? 90 Frames and Framing 90 Inside-Facing Loyalty 91 Male Leadership 94 Male Networks—The Ol’ Boys’ Club 96 Heroization 97 Demon/Savior Dichotomies 98 Social Capital: Leaders and Spokespersons 99 Social Capital: Methods 100 Group Narratives and Collective Memories 102 Concluding Remarks 104 Part II: Exposing Sexism and Male Privilege in the Anymal Activist Movement 105 Chapter 5: Survey Data on Harassment and Discrimination in the Anymal Activist Community 106 The Survey 107 “Kris” 108 Perpetrators 109 Types of Harassment and Discrimination 112 Manifestations of Harassment and Discrimination 117 The Role of Social Capital 124 Evidence of Male Networks 125 Number of Individuals Affected 127 The Critical Role of Need for Community and Inside-Facing Loyalty 128 The Problem of Policies 130 Problems with Reporting 133 Lack of Consequences for Perpetrators 134 Backlash Respondents/Internalized Sexism 136 Concluding Remarks 139 Chapter 6: CANHAD: Testimonials from the Anymal Activist Community Revealing Internal Sexism 140 CANHAD Testimonials 140 Sexism and the Preference for Male Leadership 142 Sexism and Male Leadership 143 Sexism and Emotions 146 Problematic Relations with Empowered Men 147 Problematic Male Donors 150 Need for Community 151 Problematic Inside-Facing Loyalty 155 The “Naked March” 158 Concluding Remarks 160 Chapter 7: Evidence of Systemic Sexism and Male Privilege in Anymal Activism Prior to #MeToo 161 Leadership—Privileged Men and Male Networks 161 Leadership Sex Ratios in Prominent AE Organizations 172 Speaker Sex Ratios: FARM U.S. National Conference 175 Animal Rights Hall of Fame (FARM) 183 Concluding Remarks 187 Chapter 8: The #ARMeToo Movement: Empowered Perpetrators Exposed at HSUS, MFA, and DxE 189 Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 190 Mercy for Animals (MFA) 196 Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) 202 Concluding Remarks 207 Part III: Harms of and Solutions to Sexism in the Anymal Activist Movement 208 Chapter 9: Harms of Sexism and Male Privilege in the AE Community 209 Harms Reported via the Survey and CANHAD Testimonials 209 Psychological Harms 211 Fear and Stress 211 Shame and Self-hatred 212 Broken Trust and Despair 215 Wasted Time, Skills, and People Power 218 Squandered Funds 223 Sexism as Hypocrisy in the AE Movement 225 Concluding Remarks 228 Chapter 10: Working Against Sexism and Male Privilege Inside Organizations 229 Hire Women 230 Education and Cross-Pollination 234 False Reporting and Accountability 237 Create/Enforce Policies 240 Recreate Collective Memory and Group Narratives 246 Shared Power: An Anymal Activist Umbrella Committee (AAUC) 250 Concluding Remarks 251 Chapter 11: Independent Activists Working Against Sexism and Male Privilege 253 Cross-Pollination with Feminists 254 Creating Safe Spaces and Organizing 255 Stand Together 257 Reject Heroism 260 Challenge Those Who Attack; Protect the Messenger 261 Be Aware of Problems Inherent in Internal Heterosexual Relationships 263 Reject Gender Roles 268 Calling In versus Calling Out 269 Word Activism 271 Allies 275 Concluding Remarks 277 Part IV: Critical Reflections from Anymal Activists 278 Chapter 12: Meet the New Vegan World 280 Introduction 280 When Social Change Becomes an Industry 282 The Plant-Based Industry Saves the World 284 Intersectionality: A False Solution 287 Meet the New Vegan World, Same as the Old 290 Chapter 13: Liberation Is Not Total If It Does Not Include Disabled People 293 Chapter 14: White Supremacy and Anymal Activism 300 White Supremacy as Speciesism in Anymal Activism 301 Implications of White Supremacy in Anymal Shelters 302 White Supremacy, Anymal Activism, and the Criminal Justice System 304 Giving Voice 305 Conclusion 305 Chapter 15: Cis-Male Dominance in Anymal Activism from a Transgender Perspective 306 Introduction 306 Voices of Compassion, Voices of Cruelty 307 The Moral Circle 309 Hero, Victims, Silent Witness 310 Finding Hope as a Trans Anymal Activist 311 Coming Out and an Interview 312 How Long Will It Take? 312 Chapter 16: Towards a (Pro)Feminist Anymal Activist Movement: Reflections from Estonia 314 Introduction 314 The AE Movement in Estonia: Brief Overview 315 Creating Feminist Spaces in the AE Movement 316 Overlapping Oppressions and Collaboration 317 Men and Masculinities in the AE Movement 319 Conclusion 320 Chapter 17: When the Rite of Passage Is Wrong: One White Man’s (Ongoing) Journey from Toxicity to Anymal Activism/Social Justice 321 Branding a Boy 322 Death or Vegan, Which Will It Be? 323 Vegan + 324 Agents for Change 326 Cishet White Males—What’s Next 328 Working Toward Ally/Accomplice 329 Part V: Conclusion 330 Chapter 18: Conclusion: Meta-Reflections on Sexism in Anymal Activism 331 Activism and Information: Pickton, a PETA Ad, and the Public 332 Voice 336 An Oppressive Liberation Movement 337 Appendix 1: Kemmerer Survey on Harassment and Discrimination in the Anymal Activist Community 339 Introduction 339 Section 1—Describe Yourself 340 Section 2—Describe Your Involvement in Animal Advocacy 342 Section 3—Describe Your Experiences with Harassment and/or Discrimination 343 Appendix 2: Survey Demography 351 Appendix 3: How to Access the Cooney Legal Documents 357 Appendix 4: Vegan Outreach Discrimination and Harassment Policy 360 Definitions 361 Implementation 363 Complaints Procedure 364 Self-Help 364 Initial Complaint 364 Informal Complaint 365 Formal Complaint 366 Witnessing Discrimination and Harassment 367 Complaints Against Third Parties 367 Complaints by Third Parties 368 Anonymous Complaints 368 Conclusion 368 Appendix 5: Tofurky: Donor Organization Charitable Giving Policy on Gender Discrimination and Harassment 369 The Tofurky Company—Charitable Giving Program Policy on Gender Discrimination and Harassment 369 Appendix 6: Letter Addressing Complaints Against Anthony Nocella 371 Appendix 7: Email Exchange Between Rachel Perman and Erika Brunson 374 Works Cited 378 Index 416 In this latest book, Lisa Kemmerer details the entrenchment of sexism in elements of the animal advocacy movement. Drawing on survey findings and written accounts of animal advocates, Kemmerer exposes many intra-movement problems and challenges the movement to engage in a process of truth and reconciliation, rightfully pointing out that the goals of anti-speciesism cannot be realized without also addressing sexism and other forms of intersecting oppression. Amy J. Fitzgerald, Professor, University of Windsor, Canada This powerful and provocative book is essential reading for anyone studying or participating in social movements. Emily Gaarder, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA Important, compelling, and provocative, Oppressive Liberation is a long overdue intervention in the problematic gender politics of the anymal rights movement. The book is an urgent reminder that the anymal rights movement has not yet sorted out its responsibilities to feminism or any other social justice issue. Kemmerer draws a much-needed roadmap for moving forward in ways that reject harassment, discrimination, and violence and create healthier, more secure, and more just organizational cultures in the anymal rights movement. Katja M. Guenther, Professor, University of California, Riverside, USA For years activists and scholars have complained of sexism among animal advocates. Employing previous scholarship, new data, and critical analysis, Oppressive Liberation explores the truth of these accusations. In the process, the book clarifies why sexism is a wide-spread problem in social justice activism and provides new data specifically on sexism in animal activism. Oppressive Liberation also examines likely resultant harms and suggests practical solutions to the problem at hand. This book builds on the concept of intersecting oppressions, focusing on the interface of speciesism and sexism while indicating the need for total liberationan end to all forms of privilege and marginalization. Lisa Kemmerer is internationally known for her work on behalf of animals, the planet, and disempowered human beings, and is founder and director of the educational non-profit, Tapestry. For more information, please visit lisakemmerer.com and vegantapestry.org