BUFFALO, NY – Carol Adams, a pioneer of American feminism, will present her “Sexual Politics of Meat” slideshow at Canisius University on Wednesday, October 19 at 6 p.m. in Science Hall Commons. Adams’ presentation, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a book signing and reception.
Adams’ presentation provides an ecofeminist analysis of the interconnected oppressions of sexism, racism, and speciesism by exploring the way popular culture presents images of race, gender and species to further oppressive attitudes. It also suggests forms of resistance against the construction of individuals, human or non-human, as “meat.” Drawing upon images from popular culture, it answers the question: how does someone become a piece of meat?
A prolific writer and animal advocate, Adams is the author of multiple books, including the groundbreaking 1990 book The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory. In it, Adams brings together the worlds of feminist and vegetarian thinking. One theory she proposes is that eating meat has been equated with masculine behavior, and to refuse to eat meat (dead animals) is to make a statement not just about food but about gender. Adams also argues that veganism/vegetarianism is devalued in our culture by being associated with women. The book has three U.S. editions and was translated into multiple foreign languages including German, Chinese and Italian.
Adams advocates for social justice (which includes justice for animals) and against domestic violence, homelessness, racism and violence against animals. For her efforts, the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame inducted Adams as a member in 2011. She previously served as executive director of Chautauqua County Rural Ministry Inc. in Dunkirk, NY and as a lecturer at Fredonia State College where Adams helped to develop an introductory course on women’s studies.
For more information, contact the Office of College Communications at (716) 888-2790.
Canisius is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation and the premier private university in Western New York.
