Linking Men, Masculinities and Non-Human Animals in the Capitalocene: Implications for Critical Studies on Men and Masculinities

This article critically examines links between men, masculinities and non-human animals in the Capitalocene, where humanity’s exploitation and commodification of other forms of life have led to ecological breakdown and other crises on a planetary scale. While some recent work in CSMM has discussed men and masculinities from posthumanist perspectives, specific engagement with non-human animals and animality remains largely absent. To examine these connections, I draw on existing work in CSMM and other critical approaches, such as critical animal studies, feminist animal studies/ecofeminism, and critical race scholarship. I propose studying men and masculinities from a critical posthumanist intersectional approach that integrates non-human animals and animality. The insights provided in this article can inspire new ways of thinking about men and masculinities in CSMM and facilitate envisioning and practicing more sustainable and ethical material relations with non-human animals.