ENFOC: Speciesist violence

Interview with Romina Kachanoski

Abstract

Speciesist violence is an emerging social problem on a global scale that, far from prevented or eradicated, is presented as an available resource to act in society. The aim of this work is to introduce the term speciesist violence and provide clues for its recognition and eradication. To this end, from an integral perspective, an approach to its inherent complexity is done by addressing three psychosocial major axes: origins of speciesist violence, definition of speciesist violence and types of speciesist violence. According to its origins and its cause, Anthropocentric Speciesism is analyzed, placing it in the context of other related social struggles (against Sexism, Racism, Nazism, Homophobia, Transphobia, etc.). Then, it’s justified the implementation of the term speciesist violence against other terminologies currently in use (animal cruelty, animal abuse, sadism, mental disorder, etc.), giving conceptual rigor. Finally, is addressed a comprehensive range of typologies of speciesist violence, grouped into five dimensions or scenarios of possible action, according to the kind of violent relationship established with nonhuman animals: direct violence (physical, psychological, spatial, lynching, negligence, instrumental), indirect, collateral, structural (includes Speciecide) and discursive. Throughout the entire presentation, the pragmatic use of discourse is promoted, and practical and everyday life examples are analyzed, allowing to grasp the magnitude of existing speciesist violence nowadays.