Feminism in the Wild

How the science of animal behavior has been limited by heteronormative values, as well as dominant culture-and how we can combat those biased perspectives and do better science.


How the science of animal behavior has been limited by heteronormative values, as well as dominant culture-and how we can combat those biased perspectives and do better science.


In Feminism in the Wild, Ambika Kamath and Melina Packer challenge outdated, male-centric, and often inaccurate ideas in the field of animal behavior science by revealing how human norms and values are projected onto animals. When scientific studies conclude that these norms and values are natural in animals, it makes it easier to think of them as natural in humans too. And because scientists, historically and to this day, largely belong to elite, powerful segments of society, the norms and values embedded into animal behavior science match those of the already powerful. How can animal behavior science escape this trap of perpetuating systems of oppression?

Drawing from decades of feminist, antiracist, queer, disability justice, and Marxist contributions-including those of biologists-Kamath and Packer break down persistent assumptions in the status quo of animal behavior science and offer a multitude of alternative approaches. Core concepts in evolutionary biology and animal behavior, such as fitness, adaptation by natural selection, biological determinism, foraging, cognition, territory and dominance, group selection, sex, mate choice, and sexual selection, are all carefully contextualized and reexamined through the critical lenses of multidimensional feminisms. This unique collaboration between an animal behavior researcher (Kamath) and a feminist science studies researcher (Packer) goes into great depth while remaining accessible to general readers.

Providing more than critique, Feminism in the Wild equips readers with conceptual and practical tools for doing science differently, guiding students and practitioners toward more accurate science and more justice-oriented theories and practices.