Sociocultural aspects of attitudes toward marine animals: a focus group analysis

In geographic research of the past decade, the understanding of nature-society relations has broadened to include ideas about our relationship with and attitudes toward animals. In this study, we explore the relationship between attitudes toward marine animals and sociocultural diversity, and the role of cultural difference and marginalization in the attitude formation process. We conducted five focus groups with low-income, inner-city Los Angeles women of different race/ethnicity (African American, Latina, Chicana, Chinese, and Filipina). From these group discussions we learned that participants had experienced both a distancing from and a rapprochement with animals in their everyday lives, leading them to alter their attitudes toward animals. Also, their experience of social exclusion and marginalization led many to understand that ideas about animals are socially constructed. Building on this understanding, certain participants argued that some animal-related practices have an overriding cultural purpose, even if such practices are not sanctioned by mainstream norms for human-animal relations prevalent in the U.S. This research contributes to our understanding of nature-society relations in geography, and can help wildlife managers better communicate to the public and garner support for species preservation and habitat conservation.