Abstract

This research problematises the translation of economic agency into political agency through ethical consumption. Employing narrative enquiry, the experiences and perceptions of three young women are documented and analysed. This permits a grounded examination of the advocacy and consumption nexus, including participants relative prioritisation of (competing) ethical values and practices relative to traditional consumption concerns. A key finding is that prioritisation of wellbeing, comprising that of humans, animals and other forms of life, requires a rearticulation of the traditional concept of ‘political solidarity’ to a more multifaceted conception of ‘multispecies solidarity’. Moreover, conception of self and of solidarity through consumption is best understood as an ongoing process of learning, which is influenced by a range of factors that shape individual decision-making in and beyond the market. While the phenomenon of ethical consumption and associated practices and values are heavily debated, when re-articulated as a navigation towards multispecies solidarity, there may be scope to reconcile and connect diverse identifiers and practices.

How to Cite:

Valiente-Riedl, E., (2019) “Towards Multispecies Solidarity: Individual Stories of Learning to Consume Ethically”, Animal Studies Journal 8(2), 113-132. doi: https://doi.org/10.14453/asj.v8i2.9