About Us
The
study of animal-human relations within the social sciences is an increasingly
important, vibrant and burgeoning field.
The formation of the BSA Animal/Human
Studies Group in June 2006 is therefore an important step towards addressing
what Bryant (1979) has called the 'zoological connection', whereby sociologists
need to recognise that people co-exist
and interact not only with humans but
with non-human animals too. For example, animals are increasingly utilised
and
involved in biotechnology and genomics; animal experimentation; the production
and slaughter of food animals; companion
animal-human type relationships and
the therapeutic use of animals. Moreover, additional animal-related issues
that
have attracted attention by researchers are: the potential links between
animal abuse and domestic violence; the nature of
animal-animal interaction;
potential links between women, nature and animals; bestiality; human-wildlife
interactions;
and human responses to companion animal death/euthanasia. Sociologists
have much to offer
this emerging area of study and are well placed to engage
with the multifaceted, ambiguous and
challenging nature of the animal-human
interface in everyday life.
The BSA Animal/Human Studies Group will enable both current and future sociologists
to put
non-human animals on to the specialist and mainstream sociological
research agenda, thus ensuring
that animal-human studies becomes a viable
and significant area of sociological study. References
Joining the Group
Membership of the AHSG is free for all BSA members, students and unwaged, but
non-BSA members with institutional support are asked to pay a one-off joining fee of £40.00. (Non-BSA members who join the AHSG as 'students'
or 'unwaged' but who subsequently begin paid employment may also be asked to pay this one-off fee to continue their
group membership).
All members of the study group will automatically receive a two-monthly e-mail newsletter and be registered on the study group's
e-mailing list to be kept fully informed
of the study group's activities. To join, complete the membership form by either (a) saving the form to your PC, complete it, save it and email or (b) complete online,
print a copy and post. Please send completed forms to the group's convenor, Dr Rhoda Wilkie - all contact details are on the form & also
on the Contact Us page.