Animals in Disaster Social Work: An Intersectional Green Perspective Inclusive of Species. (27th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraser, Heather; Taylor, Nik; Riggs, Damien W
• Is Part Of: British journal of social work. Volume 51:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1739
• Page End: 1758
• Publication Date: 2021-07-27
• Subjects: Alliances -- animals -- climate change -- disasters -- intersectionality; Social service -- Periodicals; Social workers -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcab143
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-3102

Abstract

Abstract : Human and animal lives are deeply intertwined, even when animals are hidden from human view. In this article we show how disasters devastate animals not only humans, and how their suffering is relevant to social work. Pets (companion animals), livestock (farmed animals) and wildlife (free-living animals), are all affected by droughts, bushfires, floods, and pandemics such as COVID-19. We discuss some of the dire consequences facing many species of animals in disasters, which have increased in frequency and intensity through climate change and industrialised animal agriculture. We argue that although current social work, especially in Australia, has been slow to incorporate animals in its purview, future social work has much to gain by doing so. We extend green social work and social work's historical principle of person-in-environment to include non-human animals. An expanded version of feminist intersectionality, inclusive of species as an axis of oppression and privilege, is also provided to help conceptualise a way forward. Abstract: Disasters do not just affect humans. And humans do not only live with, care for or interact with other humans. In this conceptual article, we explain how animals are relevant to green and disaster social work. Power, oppression and politics are our themes. We start the discussion by defining disasters and providing examples of how three categories of animals are affected by disasters, including in the current COVID-19 pandemic. They are: companion animals (pets), farmed animals (livestock) and free-living animals (wildlife), all of whom we classify as oppressed populations. Intersectional feminist, de-colonising and green social work ideas are discussed in relation to disaster social work. We argue that social work needs to include nonhuman animals in its consideration of person-in-environment, and offer an expanded version of feminist intersectionality inclusive of species as a way forward. Abstract : Human and animal lives are deeply intertwined, even when animals are hidden from human view. In this article, we show how disasters devastate animals not only humans, and how their suffering is relevant to social work. Pets (companion animals), livestock (farmed animals) and wildlife (free-living animals) are all affected by droughts, bushfires, floods, and pandemics such as COVID-19. We discuss some of the dire consequences facing many species of animals in disasters, which have increased in frequency and intensity through climate change and industrialised animal agriculture. We argue that although current social work, especially in Australia, has been slow to incorporate animals in its purview, future social work has much to gain by doing so. We extend green social work and social work's historical principle of person-in-environment to include non-human animals. An expanded version of feminist intersectionality, inclusive of species as an axis of oppression and privilege, is also provided to help conceptualise a way forward.