Horse looking out from stable into a world of social connection.

Unveiling the Sentient Side: How Understanding Animal Work-Lives Can Transform Our World

Soraya Malik in Culture & Society August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Beyond Anthropocentrism: Exploring Ethnographic Approaches to Animal Studies and Multispecies Ethnography for a More Ethical Future"

For years, the study of animals, particularly in understanding their lives and perspectives, has been complex and often sidelined. While quantitative studies provide valuable data, they often fail to capture the dynamic social interactions and emotional depth experienced by animals.

Fortunately, the landscape is changing. Today's scholars are increasingly questioning human superiority and embracing methodologies that respect and illuminate the varied and creative lives of animals. This shift is paving the way for a deeper understanding of animals and more ethical practices across various sectors.

This article explores the emerging field of animal-centric ethnographic research, highlighting key conceptual and practical issues. By examining the work-lives of horses in Canadian show jumping stables, we'll delve into how viewing animals as both biological and sociocultural beings can transform our understanding of interspecies relationships and open doors to a more just and equitable future.

Why Shift the Focus? Unveiling the Rich Social Lives of Animals Through Ethnography

Horse looking out from stable into a world of social connection.

Traditional approaches often foreground human perspectives, inadvertently obscuring the intricate social dynamics and experiences of animals themselves. By decentering the human gaze, we can begin to appreciate animals as active participants in their own lives and communities.

Ethnography, with its emphasis on holistic understanding and cultural nuance, offers a powerful lens for exploring animal societies. It allows us to move beyond simplistic categorizations and delve into the complexities of their relationships, behaviors, and emotions.

Holistic Understanding: Captures the complexities of animal lives within their specific environments.
Nuance and Detail: Reveals the subtle social interactions and emotional expressions of animals.
Cross-Cultural Insights: Provides a framework for understanding diverse animal cultures and behaviors.

Consider the concept of "work-lives." Just like humans, animals engage in activities that shape their identities, relationships, and overall well-being. Recognizing this dimension allows us to move beyond viewing animals as mere laborers or commodities and appreciate their multifaceted existence.

A Call to Action: Embracing Ethical and Just Multispecies Futures

By embracing animal-centric research methodologies, we can challenge anthropocentric biases and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the social lives and sentience of animals. This paradigm shift has the potential to transform our interactions with animals, fostering more ethical practices in various sectors, from agriculture to conservation. It is imperative that we continue to ask ourselves how can we better acknowledge and respect the lives of the other creatures with whom we share this planet.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/nad.12075, Alternate LINK

Title: Challenging Subjects: Towards Ethnographic Analyses Of Animals

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal for the Anthropology of North America

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Kendra Coulter

Published: 2018-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the main focus of the groundbreaking research discussed?

The research focuses on challenging traditional views of animals as objects. It aims to explore their complex social lives and work-lives, using ethnographic methods to pave the way for ethical practices and a more just multispecies future.

How does ethnographic research differ from traditional approaches in understanding animal lives?

Ethnographic research differs by decentering the human gaze and focusing on the animal's perspective. It moves beyond quantitative data to capture the dynamic social interactions, emotional depth, and cultural nuances within animal societies. It provides a holistic understanding, revealing subtle social interactions and cross-cultural insights, unlike traditional methods which often foreground human perspectives.

What are the benefits of considering the "work-lives" of animals, as mentioned in the context?

Considering the "work-lives" of animals allows us to recognize that animals engage in activities that shape their identities, relationships, and overall well-being. This perspective shifts the view of animals from mere laborers or commodities to multifaceted beings. It acknowledges that animals have a complex existence beyond their basic biological needs.

In what ways can animal-centric ethnographic research transform our world?

Animal-centric ethnographic research challenges anthropocentric biases and cultivates a deeper appreciation for the social lives and sentience of animals. This paradigm shift has the potential to transform interactions with animals, fostering more ethical practices in various sectors, such as agriculture and conservation. It encourages us to acknowledge and respect the lives of other creatures with whom we share the planet.

How does the understanding of interspecies relationships change when using ethnographic methods?

Using ethnographic methods transforms the understanding of interspecies relationships by emphasizing the complexities of animal societies. It allows for a deeper comprehension of their relationships, behaviors, and emotions within their specific environments. By moving beyond human-centric views, we can appreciate animals as active participants in their own lives and communities, leading to a more equitable future.