Podcast Ep 33: Infantilizing Animals
Originally published August 6, 2022
Listen: Apple, Podbean, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast station.
Script
Welcome to True Kinship with Animals: In Short, a mini podcast that gives you bite sized tidbits of true kinship in 3 minutes or less. I’m your host Janet Roper.
Thank you to all who have engaged with this podcast by making a financial contribution or shopping my wish list. It is such a wonderful delight to get notice of surprise deposits or unexpected packages! If you’d like to support my work, you’ll find links on the show page or visit janetroper.com Thank you!
I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and ran across an ad saying “pets are like infants that never grow up”.
Seriously?
Temple Grandin, an American scientist, academic and animal behaviorist has said “We’ve bred [dogs] to be hyper-socialized [and] kept their puppy characteristics, so it’s natural that some people treat their dogs like children. And they are very attuned to us.”
And to me, infantilizing animals falls into the category of just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
You may now be thinking “But Janet, not all animals….” . Here’s the thing, that dialogue references individual animals, people, relationships and circumstances. When folx say that, they are usually referring to well intended animal lovers they know.
I’m not speaking about individuals. I’m speaking about a system that values people over animals, encouraging people to (usually unconsciously) feel entitled to dictate and shape an animal’s experience. This perpetuates the colonized idea animals are inferior to humans.
It’s time to explore and dismantle cultural lenses - like infantilization - that may appear benign but actually delegate animals to 2nd class citizens status.
Ready? Here are 3 ideas to help you:
Become aware of the complexities of being an animal person in today’s society.
Ask yourself who the infantilization benefits - the animal or you? This is a challenging and complex question, definitely not in the one and done category.
List 3 common cultural lenses you’ve noticed with animals that at first appear benign but actually chip away at an animal’s agency.
Here’s an invitation for you to join me on this path. My work is devoted to helping you show up in the world for animals from the fullness of your authentic self. I hope this encourages you to look at your relationship with animals differently so that a new place of understanding begins to open for you.
My online work is given readily and is free to consume. AND time and labor are involved. Your financial support makes my work sustainable and allows me to continue providing you with the pro bono resources I offer, such as this podcast. Supporting my work by making a financial contribution or shopping my wish list at janetroper.com shows your appreciation and is greatly welcomed. Thank you for your continued support and for listening to this podcast!
Just for today remember: We all do better when all creatures do better. Until next time, take good care!
