Becoming-with in a compost society — Haraway beyond posthumanism

Abstract Purpose –This paper considers the role of nonhuman animals in the thought of Donna Haraway, going from her critique of the animal as model/mirror for the evolution of the human body politic to her proposal for a “compost” society. It demonstrates her changing positions in relation to the social role of animals and the deepening of her critique of intersectional relations that subordinate nonhuman animals and animalized people. Design/methodology/approach –The paper intertwines a loosely historical approach and a thematic one, focusing on key issues of sociological theory, such as work, agency and kinship, and the way these relate to the animal question in Haraway’s writings. Her texts are discussed both broadly and in-depth, and her positionality in terms of both feminism and antispeciesism is foregrounded. Findings – The paper shows how the progressive abandonment of a posthuman approach in favor of a compostist one brings Haraway nearer to intersectional ecofeminism and to a fuller consideration of nonhuman agency at a material level, as well as to a deeper critique of instrumental relations of domination and issue that had been problematic in critiques of her earlier work. Social implications – The paper highlights the role of nonhumans in the evolution and constitution of societies and advocates a response-able multispecies politics. Originality/value – This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the social role of animals in Haraway’s thought and the deepening antispeciesism of her feminist approach that sheds a different light on her positionality in relation to ecofeminism. Paper type Research paper

bstract Purpose –This paper considers the role of nonhuman animals in the thought of Donna Haraway, going from her critique of the animal as model/mirror for the evolution of the human body politic to her proposal for a “compost” society. It demonstrates her changing positions in relation to the social role of animals and the deepening of her critique of intersectional relations that subordinate nonhuman animals and animalized people. Design/methodology/approach –The paper intertwines a loosely historical approach and a thematic one, focusing on key issues of sociological theory, such as work, agency and kinship, and the way these relate to the animal question in Haraway’s writings. Her texts are discussed both broadly and in-depth, and her positionality in terms of both feminism and antispeciesism is foregrounded. Findings – The paper shows how the progressive abandonment of a posthuman approach in favor of a compostist one brings Haraway nearer to intersectional ecofeminism and to a fuller consideration of nonhuman agency at a material level, as well as to a deeper critique of instrumental relations of domination and issue that had been problematic in critiques of her earlier work. Social implications – The paper highlights the role of nonhumans in the evolution and constitution of societies and advocates a response-able multispecies politics. Originality/value – This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the social role of animals in Haraway’s thought and the deepening antispeciesism of her feminist approach that sheds a different light on her positionality in relation to ecofeminism. Keywords Ecofeminism, Posthumanism, Donna Haraway, Animal sociology, Compost society Paper type Research paper