“The Sexual Politics of Meat” a presentation by eco-feminist Carol Adams with art work by Suzy Gonzalez |
Carol Adams, a nationally-renowned eco-feminist and lecturer, presented on her foundational critical work, The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory, at the University of the Incarnate Word sponsored by the growing Women’s and Gender Studies Department and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, October 11, 2017.
In
addition to Adams’ lecture, local San Antonio artist Suzy Gonzalez, who was
inspired by The Sexual Politics of Meat,
shared her artwork. One of the most
impactful pieces was Gonzalez’ rendition of the Skinny Cow ice cream advertising
mascot. Gonzalez highlights the
sexuality of the cow in the ad, accentuating how women and animals are
interlinked in advertising, and she substitutes the cow’s head with a bloody
butcher knife. (See picture above.) In
doing so, she reminds viewers that cows are not willing participants in their
own destructions: advertisers only like to pretend they are to assuage its
consumers’ consciences.
With over 150 attendees, the lecture attracted Incarnate Word students, faculty, and staff as well as members of the San Antonio community. During her lecture, Adams detailed the idea of “the absent sexual referent” that happens when consuming meat and participating in meat-eating culture. She argued that the meat industry romanticizes and even masculinizes meat-eating, so much so that the death of animals is obscured and rarely considered—even as the animals are being consumed. Strikingly, Adams also pointed out that depictions of animals are often intertwined with depictions of women in Western popular culture.
Adams
used modern advertising ads from a myriad of venues to show this often twinned
existence between masculinity and meat-eating.
By extension, Adams suggested that sexual violence is a byproduct of a
culture that celebrates meat consumption.
Through the absence of a sexual referent, meat-eaters can be seen as
complicit in a culture that values selfishness and immediate gratification over
not only the death of animals but also the women it uses as illustrative of
meat consumption.
Dr. Lu’Ella D’Amico, organizer of the program, Suzy Gonzalez, artist, Dr. Carol Adams, speaker, and Dr. Emile Clarke, Chair of UIW English Department. |
Following
the lecture, UIW Women’s and Gender Studies hosted a vegan reception along with
a book signing with Carol Adams.
One of
the people attending Sister Martha Ann Kirk began being a vegetarian in 1976
when she learned that eating lower on the food chain might contribute to having
more food for the peoples of the world. Then she began to think that while we
do not have control over much of the violence in the world, we can decide that
animals do not have to be killed for us. Kirk invites others to think of how eatingless meat can help the environment. For Kirk, Carol Adam’s ideas
helped illumine and integrate many ideas of choices for life, respect, and
compassion.
By Dr.
LuElla D’Amico, Assistant Professor of English and Co-Coordinator of the
Women’s and Gender Studies program at the University of the Incarnate Word.
More information on meat and the environment:
Eating Less Meat Essential to Curb Climate Change, Says Report (Our World)
https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/eating-less-meat-essential-to-curb-climate-change-says-report
11 Facts About Your Food That Will Shock You (Forbes)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpellmanrowland/2017/01/03/shocking-food-facts/#74a732761574
The Road to a Paris Climate Deal (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/climate/2015-paris-climate-talks/will-reducing-meat-in-my-diet-help-the-climate
Here’s how much giving up beef helps — or doesn’t help — the planet (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/heres-how-much-giving-up-beef-helps--or-doesnt-help--the-planet/2017/07/20/03bb5ba2-6d60-11e7-b9e2-2056e768a7e5_story.html?utm_term=.115bde940c28
If Everyone Ate Beans Instead of Beef (The Atlantic)
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/08/if-everyone-ate-beans-instead-of-beef/535536/
Eating Less Meat Essential to Curb Climate Change, Says Report (Our World)
https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/eating-less-meat-essential-to-curb-climate-change-says-report
11 Facts About Your Food That Will Shock You (Forbes)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpellmanrowland/2017/01/03/shocking-food-facts/#74a732761574
The Road to a Paris Climate Deal (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/climate/2015-paris-climate-talks/will-reducing-meat-in-my-diet-help-the-climate
Here’s how much giving up beef helps — or doesn’t help — the planet (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/heres-how-much-giving-up-beef-helps--or-doesnt-help--the-planet/2017/07/20/03bb5ba2-6d60-11e7-b9e2-2056e768a7e5_story.html?utm_term=.115bde940c28
If Everyone Ate Beans Instead of Beef (The Atlantic)
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/08/if-everyone-ate-beans-instead-of-beef/535536/
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