The Attitudes of People with Different Gender Identities and Different Perceptions of Gender Roles towards Nonhuman Animals and Their Welfare

Even in a country like the UK, which appears to be a nonhuman-animal-loving nation, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals receives over one million calls a year reporting possible nonhuman animal abuse or neglect. In order to decrease nonhuman animal suffering, there needs to be better understanding of perceptions towards nonhuman animals and their welfare. In this regard, this chapter moves beyond binary gender investigations to an inclusive exploration, via a survey, of attitudes of both people with the range of gender identities and people with different perceptions of gender roles towards nonhuman animals, with illustrative focus on status dogs. The findings confirm those from previous research but reveal some interesting nuances around non-cisgender identities. Such information may contribute to better understanding of gender identity and gender roles related attitudes towards nonhuman animal welfare and thus identify the gaps in public education about nonhuman animal abuse and ultimately such information will aid the abolition of animal oppression.