‘Never an It’: Intersubjectivity and the creation of animal personhood in animal shelters

Nicola Taylor

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.3.1.05

Authors

Nicola Taylor Central Queensland University, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.3.1.05

Keywords:

Animals, Human-animal interaction, Intersubjectivity, Personhood, Personality

Abstract

This paper argues that sociology should begin to turn its attention to human-animal interaction and that one particularly effective way to do so is to adopt a phenomenological approach. This approach sees the personality, and thus the personhood of animals, as intersubjectively and reflexively created. Based on ethnographic data collected over three years in animal sanctuaries this paper assesses how animal sanctuary workers labour collectively to establish the identity of the animals under their care and how this, in turn, justifies their attitudes towards, and treatment of, them.

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Author Biography

Nicola Taylor, Central Queensland University, Australia

Nicola Taylor (PhD) is currently a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Central Queensland University. She has published a number of articles concerning humananimal interaction, domestic violence and harm to companion animals and has been highlighting the importance of studying these areas to sociologists, policy makers and practitioners alike since 1997. She is an Honorary member of the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies, the Executive Director of the Centre for Animal Liberation Affairs and sits on the editorial board of Anthrozoos. She also acts as reviewer for a number of international journals dedicated to human-animal studies such as Society & Animals and the Animal Liberation Philosophy & Policy Journal.

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