ASI Diary

New Semester Brings Promise

Yesterday was the first day of classes at my college, Central New Mexico Community College. For me, this was a more exciting day than usual because I am now teaching, only for the second time at this school, a sociology course I created called Animals & Society. From my syllabus: “This course is designed to bring into the realm of sociological inquiry the relationships that exist between humans and other animals.  A major focus will be on the social construction of animals in American culture and the way in which these social meanings are used to perpetuate hierarchical human/human relationships such...

Research Nutshell

Attitudes Toward Tactics

Results of an annual survey about humane activism indicate that the public reacts most favorably toward tactics that emphasize education over confrontation.

Study Summary:

Each year, the Humane Research Council conducts its Animal Tracker survey to help gauge public attitudes toward tactics used by the animal advocacy movement. Its 2008 survey asked more than 1,500 people how much they supported or opposed...