Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Lawrence, E. A.
Ethics & Behavior, v. 13, p. 203-207, 2003.
The author of the book provides useful style guidelines for countering speciesism, advising readers what language to use and what to avoid in writing about animals. A valuable feature of the book is the thesaurus designating terms to avoid and alternatives to use for each of the topics covered in the chapters. In Animal Equality, Dunayer has proved her thesis: The way we speak and write about animals is inseparable from the way we treat them. This extraordinary book is highly recommended for anyone working in the field of human-animal interactions and especially for animal rights proponents who need readily available data to support their arguments. The work is as much a guide for activists as it is a scholarly treatise. It will be especially valuable for teachers of human-animal relationships and bioethics. Scientists who write and speak about their work with animals will find it useful for gaining new understanding about the manipulation of language in their reports. The book does a service in exposing cruelties to animals that may not be generally known. In calling for honest rather than deceitful language, Dunayer has advanced the cause of animal liberation by detailing one vitally important way to help bring about more just and equitable treatment for nonhumans.