Slaughterhouse Schoolbooks: The Unconscious Dehumanization of Animals
- Written by Pete C.
- ⏱️ 4 Min Read
Analysis reveals: Schoolbooks marginalize animals by neglecting accurate representation and emphasizing human superiority - Research reveals: The biased representation of animals in educational textbooks
"Fatty bovine beasts are here for our pleasure, their main purpose being milk and meat production. Beef cattle breeds, particularly the bulls, can grow a whopping kilogram per day!" These words, straight outta a textbook, are clear as a bell: it's about milk and meat. But there's more going on here.
Milan Büscher and his team at Osnabrück University's Biology Education Research Group, in a nutshell, asked themselves: how do schoolbook authors portray animals? The team's findings? "Livestock animals are portrayed as resources without any inherent worth as living creatures, devoid of emotional language."
- Livestock animals
- Animal rights
- Empathy
- School
- Domestication
- Psychology
So, What's the Damage?
A study from the University of Osnabrück, published in 2024, revealed how authors of schoolbooks describe animals. And it ain't pretty. As Büscher explains, "Livestock animals are depicted as mere resources without any individual worth."
By reducing livestock animals to mere commodities, schoolbooks can twist our perception of these creatures. Instead of considering them sentient beings capable of feeling pain and joy, we're led to view them as nothing more than meat on the hoof. This way of thinking can have dangerous consequences for animal welfare.
The Role of Psychology in Play
The way we perceive and treat livestock is influenced by various psychological factors. For example, ducks, often overlooked compared to flashier animals, may struggle to elicit empathy due to their less cute appearance and less expressive nature.
Additionally, cognitive biases can shape our perception of livestock. For instance, finding "cute aggression" more relatable can lead to reduced empathy for animals that don't fit the cute and cuddly mold. Repeated exposure to the reduction of livestock to mere commodities can result in our normalization and desensitization, further decreasing our empathy and support for their welfare.
A Wake-Up Call for Change
Schoolbooks have the power to shape the way we think and feel about livestock animals, influencing our actions and attitudes towards them. As we move towards a more compassionate society, it's crucial that schoolbooks put the welfare of these creatures front and center.
Let's give animals the respect they deserve and show them that they matter!
"Incorporating a broader perspective in schoolbooks' portrayal of animals could lead to an improvement in community policy, particularly in terms of animal rights and education-and-self-development, fostering empathy, understanding, and respect towards livestock animals. This shift in thinking, facilitated through learning, could positively impact lifestyle choices related to pet ownership and the treatment of animals in employment policies."
"Moreover, acknowledging the sentience of livestock animals and their capacity to feel pain and joy in schoolbooks could nurture a new generation that values learning about various animals, including less commonly highlighted ones like ducks, and makes conscious decisions to promote their welfare, challenging cognitive biases and taking steps towards a more humane employment policy."
