The Dig Beasts of Burden w/ Sunaura Taylor
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Aug 16, 2024 Sunaura Taylor, an author focusing on animal and disability liberation, dives into her groundbreaking book, *Beasts of Burden*. She challenges us to rethink socialism and Marxism through these critical lenses, discussing the intersections of human and non-human struggles. With her sister, Astra Taylor, they tackle how industrial agriculture reinforces capitalist exploitation and explore the philosophical roots of ableism alongside speciesism. Sunaura emphasizes the urgent need for solidarity in activism, advocating for a compassionate reevaluation of our societal values.
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Disabled By Design On Factory Farms
- Industrial breeding and housing systematically produce bodily harm so animals become disabled to maximize productivity.
- Selective breeding, immobility, and filthy conditions create chronic lameness, infections, and reproductive damage.
Human Workers Disabled Too
- Disablement in animal industries also disables workers, who are often low-income immigrants facing traumatic injuries and replacement.
- The same profit logic discards disabled humans and animals alike.
Personhood Tests Are Biased
- Personhood tests (language, rationality, autonomy) are both ableist and speciesist because they center certain capacities as moral worth.
- Those tests exclude disabled humans and many animals, reproducing hierarchies of exploitation.