Defiant Daughters: 21 Women on Art, Activism, Animals, and The Sexual Politics of Meat

by Wendy Lee, Kara Davis (Editor)

Overview

When The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory by Carol J. Adams was published more than twenty years ago, it caused an immediate stir among writers and thinkers, feminists and animal rights activists alike. Never before had the relationship between patriarchy and meat eating been drawn so clearly, the idea that there lies a strong connection between the consumption of women and animals so plainly asserted. But, as the 21 personal stories in this anthology show, the impact of this provocative text on women's lives continues to this day, and it is as diverse as it is revelatory. One writer attempts to reconcile her feminist-vegan beliefs with her Muslim upbringing; a second makes the connection between animal abuse and her own self-destructive tendencies. A new mother discusses the sexual politics of breastfeeding, while another pens a letter to her young son about all she wishes for him in the future. Many others recall how the book inspired them to start careers in the music business, animal advocacy, and food. No matter whether they first read it in college or later in life, whether they are in their late teens or early forties, these writers all credit The Sexual Politics of Meat in some way with the awakening of their identities as feminists, activists, and women. Even if you haven't read the original work, you're sure to be moved and inspired by these tales of growing up and, perhaps more important, waking up to the truths around us. Including a foreword from Carol J. Adams herself, this collection of fresh, bold voices defies expectations and provides rousing support for the belief that women have the power to change the world around them for this generation and those to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590564196
Publisher:	Lantern Publishing & Media
Publication date:	03/19/2013
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Kara Davis is Managing Director at Lantern Books. She is a street activist who got her start as a teen with the Sanctuary Movement in Arizona, and worked many years with Act Up and Fed Up Queers in NYC. She recently attempted some food activism in the "locavore" crazy Hudson Valley by accepting food stamps for pickled vegetables, fresh tofu, seitan, and nut cheese at the farmer's market, and running a sliding scale vegan C.S.A. Kara is a proud volunteer at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, and lives in a crumbling old house with her girlfriend and too many rescued cats.

Table of Contents

Foreword Carol J. Adams vii

Cow 1

Halal Ruby Hamad 3

A Moment of Truth Rochelle M. Green 18

The Sexual Politics of Breastfeeding Jennifer Grubbs 28

Pig 39

Confessions of a Not-Yet Vegan Darlene Smoot 41

Opening Veins Kim Socha 49

Dear Justice Maria Rose 63

Chicken 71

The Feminist-Vegan's Dilemma Colleen Martell 73

Cripping the Sexual Politics of Meat Sunaura Taylor 86

It's Not Like You Could Ever Actually Go Vegan Katy Otto 99

Girl 111

Teenage Wasteland Kate Larson 113

Happy Rape, Happy Meat Dallas Rising 119

Horse 129

Queering the Dinner Table Margaret Perret 131

Sustaining Rice Carolyn Mullin 143

Dog 155

Knowing Ignorance Vidushi Sharma 157

Beyond Band-Aid Work Ashley Maier 167

My Feminist Continuum Melinda Fox 175

Disordered Pronouns, Disordered Eating Laura Wright 181

Fish and Frog 195

Brother Knows Best Sarah E. Brown 197

Found Art, Found Hope Jasmin Singer 205

Woman 223

Eat Chocolate Have Faith in Women Lagusta Yearwood 225

Getting to Vedge Kate Jacoby 231

Afterword Kara Davis 247

About the Contributors 253