Oppressive Liberation: Sexism in Animal Activism

by Lisa Kemmerer

Overview

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 experienceswith 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783031153624
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	04/01/2023
Edition description:	2023
Pages:	433
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction: Speciesism, Sexism, and Male Privilege.- Part I A Wide-Angle View of Interconnected Oppressions.- 2 Interconnections: Theory, Myth, and Science.- 3 Whiteness as Norm, Intersectionality, and Interfacing Oppressions.- 4 The “Why” of Sexism in Social Justice Movements.- Part II Exposing Sexism and Male Privilege in the Anymal Activist Movement.- 5 Survey Data on Harassment and Discrimination in the
Anymal Activist Community.- 6 CANHAD: Testimonials from the Anymal Activist Community Revealing Internal Sexism.- 7 Evidence of Systemic Sexism and Male Privilege in Anymal Activism Prior to #MeToo.- 8 The #ARMeToo Movement: Empowered Perpetrators Exposed at HSUS, MFA, and DxE.- Part III Harms of and Solutions to Sexism in the Anymal Activist Movement.- 9 Harms of Sexism and Male Privilege in the AE Community.- 10 Working Against Sexism and Male Privilege Inside Organizations.- 11 Independent Activists Working Against Sexism and Male Privilege.- Part IV Critical Reflections from Anymal Activists.- 12 Meet the New Vegan World.- 13 Liberation Is Not Total If It Does Not Include Disabled People.- 14 White Supremacy and Anymal Activism.- 15 Cis-Male Dominance in Anymal Activism from a Transgender Perspective.- 16 Towards a (Pro)Feminist Anymal Activist Movement: Reflections from Estonia.- 17 When the Rite of Passage Is Wrong: One White Man’s (Ongoing) Journey from Toxicity to Anymal Activism/Social Justice.- Part V Conclusion.- 18 Conclusion: Meta-Reflections on Sexism in Anymal Activism.- Appendix 1: Kemmerer Survey on Harassment and Discrimination in the Anymal Activist Community.- Appendix 2: Survey Demography.- Appendix 3: How to Access the Cooney Legal Documents.- Appendix 4: Vegan Outreach Discrimination and Harassment Policy.- Appendix 5: Tofurky: Donor Organization Charitable Giving Policy on Gender Discrimination and Harassment.- Appendix 6: Letter Addressing Complaints Against Anthony Nocella.- Appendix 7: Email Exchange Between Rachel Perman and Erika Brunson.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"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)

"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)

"This powerful and provocative book is essential reading for anyone studying or participating in social movements." (Emily Gaarder, author of Women and the Animal Rights Movement)

Editorial Reviews

Lisa Kemmerer’s Oppressive Liberation brings a vegan feminist perspective to inter­rogate the longstanding problems of male privilege, sexism, and sexual harass­ment in the animal rights movement … . Oppressive Liberation explores the intersections of sexism and animal activ­ism through six sections. Opening with an Introduction to the nexus of sexism, speciesism, and male privilege, the volume proceeds to expose … . Here and throughout this rich volume, Kemmerer offers startling (vegan) food for thought.” (Greta Gaard, Society & Animals, Vol. 33 (1), 2025)

“Oppressive Liberation by Lisa Kemmerer is a hybrid, multi vocal text with eye-opening details about sexism and abuse of women in animal activism. The book is meticulously researched and includes survey data, executive profiles, testimonials, and several chapters written by participants of all genders on the front line of male privilege in the animal activist movement. … Her scholarship, survey data, testimonials, profiles of male leaders, and narratives by other animal activists offer a wealth of information and ideas. …” (Gregory F. Tague, Leonardo, leonardo.info, June, 2023)

From the Publisher