Powerarchy Quotes

“I narrowed the focus of my research to examine a specific expression of the relational paradox: the psychosociology of eating animals, a phenomenon I named carnism. Seeking to understand how people who care about the well-being of nonhuman animals nevertheless consume (or kill) them, I conducted interviews and surveys, and coded and analyzed responses. I concluded that eating (certain) animals results from extensive social and psychological conditioning that causes naturally empathic and rational people to distort their perceptions and block their empathy so that they act against their values of compassion and justice without fully realizing what they're doing. In other words, carnism teaches us to violate the Golden Rule without knowing or caring that we're doing so.”
― Melanie Joy, Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation

“When we perceive ourselves as separate and distinct from others, we tend to think in terms of 'either or' rather than 'bothand'.' We may therefore place groups or individuals into rigid categories in our minds, whereby they lose nuance: we see others (and ourselves) as either good or bad, right or wrong, a perpetrator or a victim or a hero.”
― Melanie Joy, Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation

“Practicing integrity, acting in alignment with our core moral values such as compassion, justice and honesty, is essential for creating connection, security and empowerment.”
― Melanie Joy, Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation

“If we want people to respond to requests (or even demands) for positive change, we must make such requests in a way that honors the dignity of those being challenged while nevertheless raising awareness of the problems they've caused and holding them accountable for those problems. Of course, some people in some situations respond to being shamed by making positive change. However, it is likely that such a response is in spite of, rather than because of, having being shamed. [Powerarchy, p.39]”
― Melanie Joy, Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation

“So defining reality is inherently shaming; it is disempowering and disconnecting and it is an act of power over. Defining reality is the foundation of psychological abuse, and it is an essential weapon in the arsenal of cult leaders, domestic abusers, totalitarian regimes, and anyone who seeks power and control over others.”
― Melanie Joy, Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation