Sustainability and justice: farm animals in rural tourism and lessons to be learned

Abstract

Farm animals are virtually ignored in tourism studies concerning sustainability and justice. This study argues that this conflicts with animal ethics and is a missed opportunity to reflect on sustainability and justice in tourism. It adopts an ecofeminist care ethics perspective and conducts autoethnographic research into farm animals, considered ‘silenced’ individuals belonging to a marginalised group in rural tourism. The case is used to discuss farm animal justice and identify some lessons on sustainability and justice in broader terms, more precisely about the power–responsibility link, some major obstacles, possible change agents, and the time frame for broad radical improvements. This study highlights the potential and challenges of autoethnography to gain insights into marginalised groups and extract lessons relevant to broader topics.