HUMAN RIGHTS QUARTERLY Human Rights Quarterly 41 (2019) 39–65 © 2019 by Johns Hopkins University Press Animals Are People Too: Explaining Variation in Respect for Animal Rights Yon Soo Park & Benjamin Valentino ABSTRACT In this article, we empirically test explanations for variation in support for animal rights at the individual level and across the United States. We draw on a combination of national public opinion surveys and cross-sectional data on animal rights laws from the fifty US states. We find a strong con- nection between recognition of human rights and animal rights both at the individual attitude level and at the US state policy level. Our results demonstrate that support for animal rights strongly links to support for dis- advantaged or marginalized human populations, including LGBT groups, racial minorities, undocumented immigrants, and the poor. I. INTRODUCTION Although the philosophical debate about whether—and to what extent— humans ought to recognize the rights of non-human animals has been ongo- ing for hundreds of years, scholars have yet to conduct a comprehensive and systematic analysis of why some people or polities do, or do not, support animal rights. It is well documented, however, that views on whether animals deserve rights, and exactly what rights they deserve, vary widely amongst individuals, local political communities, cultures, and nations. 1 According to Gallup’s “Values and Beliefs Survey” conducted in 2017, for example, 51 percent of Americans agreed that medical testing on animals is morally Yon Soo Park is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University. Benjamin Valentino is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. 1. Throughout this article, we will refer to non-human animals as “animals.”
Animals Are People Too: Explaining Variation in Respect for Animal Rights
Jul 10, 2023
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Related Documents
