Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation
This philosophical essay links animal liberation with disability liberation and questions the boundaries among human, animal, dependence, and autonomy. It combines lived experience, ethics, and theory to explore care and solidarity.
Work Information
It treats vulnerability not as separation, but as a shared condition.
Written by an author who is both disabled and an animal advocate, the book examines the intersection of two liberation movements and challenges assumptions around factory farming, assistance, and bodily value.
Review Summaries
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Readers value the framing of animal ethics and disability studies as intersecting rather than opposed. The clear connection between personal experience and theory is also praised.
Book Information
- Publisher
- The New Press
- Published
- 2017-03-07
- Pages
- 272 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 14.22 x 2.54 x 21.08 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781620971284
- ISBN-10
- 1620971283
- Price
- 4322 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Politics & Social Sciences/Social Sciences/Specific Demographics/Disabled
2018 American Book Award Winner A beautifully written, deeply provocative inquiry into the intersection of animal and disability liberation―and the debut of an important new social critic How much of what we understand of ourselves as “human” depends on our physical and mental abilities―how we move (or cannot move) in and interact with the world? And how much of our definition of “human” depends on its difference from “animal”? Drawing on her own experiences as a disabled person, a disability activist, and an animal advocate, author Sunaura Taylor persuades us to think deeply, and sometimes uncomfortably, about what divides the human from the animal, the disabled from the nondisabled―and what it might mean to break down those divisions, to claim the animal and the vulnerable in ourselves, in a process she calls “cripping animal ethics.” Beasts of Burden suggests that issues of disability and animal justice―which have heretofore primarily been presented in opposition―are in fact deeply entangled. Fusing philosophy, memoir, science, and the radical truths these disciplines can bring―whether about factory farming, disability oppression, or our assumptions of human superiority over animals―Taylor draws attention to new worlds of experience and empathy that can open up important avenues of solidarity across species and ability. Beasts of Burden is a wonderfully engaging and elegantly written work, both philosophical and personal, by a brilliant new voice.
Sunaura Taylor is an artist and writer based in New York City. She has written for AlterNet, American Quarterly , BOMB , the Monthly Review , Qui Parle , and Yes! Magazine . She has contributed to the books Ecofeminism , Defiant Daughters , Occupy! , Stay Solid , and Infinite City . Taylor and Judith Butler’s conversation is featured in the film Examined Life and the book of the same title, published by The New Press.
Reviews
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In Sunaura Taylor's groundbreaking work, "Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation," readers are invited into a realm where the intersections of disability justice, animal rights, and environmental activism converge. Taylor's poignant exploration sheds light on the parallels between ableism, speciesism, and capitalism, urging us to reconsider our perceptions of normality and challenge the systems of oppression that underpin our society. The book delves deep into the intertwined narratives of disability and animal liberation, offering a critical analysis of the inherent ableism and anthropocentrism embedded within our language, culture, and institutions. Taylor deftly navigates complex topics with a blend of introspection and emotive language, inviting readers to reevaluate their understanding of cognition, agency, and autonomy. One of the most striking aspects of Taylor's work is her ability to draw parallels between seemingly disparate struggles. Just as the queer community grapples with the need to assert and validate their identities, individuals with invisible disabilities often find themselves unseen and unrecognized in a society that privileges able-bodiedness. Through insightful anecdotes and reflective commentary, Taylor challenges us to confront the limitations of our perceptions and embrace a more inclusive understanding of humanity. Throughout the book, Taylor presents a multifaceted examination of the environmental and ethical implications of our treatment of animals. Drawing on historical examples and contemporary realities, Taylor exposes the insidious ways in which profit-driven motives prioritize exploitation over empathy. Through powerful storytelling and incisive analysis, Taylor urges readers to reexamine their relationship with capitalism and advocate for a more equitable and compassionate society. Central to Taylor's thesis is the recognition of the interconnectedness of all forms of oppression. By interrogating the intersections of race, ability, and species, she uncovers the underlying power structures that perpetuate inequality and exploitation. Through a lens of anti-capitalism and disability justice, Taylor advocates for a more compassionate and equitable approach to our interactions with animals and the environment. "Beasts of Burden" is not merely a critique of the status quo but a call to action for readers to challenge entrenched systems of oppression and advocate for radical change. Taylor's accessible prose and insightful commentary make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of disability rights, animal liberation, and environmental justice. In conclusion, "Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation" is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the interconnected struggles for justice and liberation. Sunaura Taylor's impassioned advocacy and rigorous analysis offer readers a compelling vision of a more equitable and compassionate world. 📖 Recommended For: Advocates for Disability Justice, Animal Rights Activists, Environmentalists Engaged in Intersectional Advocacy, Those Seeking Nuanced and Interconnected Perspectives. 🔑 Key Themes: Intersections of Disability and Animal Liberation, Critique of Capitalism and Industrialized Agriculture, Reimagining Notions of Normality and Agency, Collective Struggle for Justice and Liberation.
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Great book and great quality. Taylor asks us many important questions about ageism and specisism and reminds us the two aren't separable.
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This is one of the most remarkable books I've read in a long time. I found the approach of the author quite unique, connecting intersectionality (with a focus on disability) with animal rights. The result was, for me, a completely new perspective both on disability and animal rights. I found the argumentation of the author very complex, nuanced and thoughtful, and yet at the same time really understandable. A must-read!
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Absolute must read!!
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This book brought tears to my eyes in some cases. It frames the rights of animals in a new light and makes comparisons people are uncomfortable with, and properly qualifies them. Speciesism is ableism, and this book makes this case. There is one comment I have to make: the author takes issue with the word "voiceless". However, the word "voice" can have more than one meaning. When people don't have the right to vote, they say that their voice has been silenced. It doesn't mean their ability to speak has been repressed or removed, it means their opinions have no value or weight. That's a secondary meaning of the word "voice". You may argue that it's problematic, but that's just that word's meaning. For example, you can easily say that women don't have as much of a voice in society. We can discuss why this word itself is problematic, but Anonymous for the Voiceless and animal rights activists who use the word are not inherently or implicitly ableist. I gave this one a lot of thought. I suppose theoretically it could be "Anonymous for the Unheard" but it doesn't seem as powerful.