Lawson, Helene M
(2011)
Defining Fish.
Sociological Viewpoints, 27 (1).
47 - 56.
ISSN 1060-0876
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Abstract
This research examines the social construction of the roles and meaning of domestic fish (i.e. fish that are household pets, in personal collections, used as living decorations and incidentally as food) through interviews, participant observations and textual studies. It examines how these roles and meanings are assigned through social ritual. Fish are among the most silent animals and seem ready to assume without dispute whatever identity humans wish to give them at any moment. Humans create fanciful identities for their fish in order to serve their human needs. This paper focuses on the roles that are commonly assigned to fish and the limited likelihood that fish could ever fulfill them. It finds an epistemic gap that raises ethical questions about the way humans treat their fish.
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