Text Assignment 2

Can the social movement you have chosen to follow be said to have a particular collective identity or “frames(s)”?  What are these?

Within animal cruelty you have many ways of framed movements.  The whole reason as to why animal rights was developed was because more and more people we protesting and becoming aware of what the behind the scene looked like for animals such as in puppy mills. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world. Henry Bergh founded this organization in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans, and must be protected under penalty of law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend their anti-cruelty mission across the country, they are recognized as the highest national animal welfare organization. The ASPCA is a privately funded not-for-profit corporation, and proud to boast their more than 1 million supporters across the country. As the first humane organization to be granted legal authority to investigate and make arrests for crimes against animals, this corporation is fully dedicated to fulfilling the ASPCA mission through nonviolent approaches. This organization provides local and national leadership in three key areas: caring for pet parents and pets, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals and serving victims of animal cruelty.  Without these three main functions the ASPCA would not have been so greatly devoted and developed as an animal rescue network, and would not have grown to its mass expansion throughout its operating years.

Compare and contrast the framing of the social movement you are following to those of the pro-life movement and the environmental movement.  Does the movement you have chosen seem to have a particular iconic “face”, such as Rosa Park or Cindy Sheehan?  Does the social movement appear to have strategies for attracting and retaining members, and what are those strategies?

I believe that when people think of the ASPCA they have hope, hope for the animals in constant suffrage and torture.  This foundation has become so big because of the many people wanting to help support their beliefs and expand its knowledge with millions of people.  As asked if I think The ASPCA foundations could side more with Rosa Parks way of social protest or Cindy Sheehan, I would have to say that both Lady’s demonstrate features that the ASPCA would have followed.  The ASPCA first started because they were tired of seeing animals tortured and nothing was done to stop it, the same was as why Rosa Parks watched as people mistreated her for decades because of her race and gender.  She finally had enough, just like the founder of ASPCA.  Animals had been abused enough and they must muster up the start of the end of animal abuse. 

Of course the ASPCA has definite strategies that attracts viewers to help with their on-going cause.  I’m sure you have been watching t.v. when you see the commercial come on for the ASPCA, it usually has footage from animals, cat’s and dog’s that have been abuse, neglected, or mistreated and abandoned.  These adds for the ASPCA, what is actually happening to these pets or animals is true and quite real.  They do not sugar coat or make it easier to digests for their viewers they simply want you to know that this animals has lived a life of hell, and for small donations you can help save lives of these innocent animals.  Many people are pet lovers and this message shoots out to them across the nation.  Gathering many supports and people protesting for animal rights as well.  You will usually hear a famous artists song like, “In the Arms of an Angle” by Sarah Mclachlan.  Who also at the end of the commercial speaks out about how you can personally help animals in need.  Having famous actors or singers is also helpful in reaching across to the general public gaining fans and viewers. 

Describe the persons who have been primarily responsible for framing the social movement you are following and the persons who might join the movement.  What are the salient characteristics such as race, gender, socioeconomic class, religion, political affiliation that would describe the person who joins the social movement?  What intersectionalities may be present in the members of the movement you are following, and what difficulties or challenges may be posed by such intersectionalities?

The founders of the ASPCA have been most recognized for shaping the heart of the ASPCA, however many well known celebrities have been responsible for the appearances on the commercials and advertisements for the ASPCA.  The people most likely to join the ASPCA or donate to their cause would be people who love and adore their pets.  I don’t believe that race, gender or socio-economic class or religion play a crucial role in promoting help to the ASPCA, I think it has more to do with the kind of person you are and what you think is important.  Of course being financially stable is in deed helpful because you would be more likely to donate or share a larger donation with this foundation.  As for race and gender, I do not think either of these to tactics applies to this matter. 

What are the consequences of the movement you are studying being framed in this particular way?  Who may be excluded?

The main consequences I can think of for the ASPCA movement would be people’s knowledge.  Even though this helps in many ways, because more and more people know about this protest and donate to it, many people think that because it is a larger corporation and has grown to a well-known size, they might not be as prompt to help with it.  Brushing it aside or maybe donating to another cause because of its progress.

The only people that this foundation can exclude would be the people who support facilities such as, puppy mills, food production industries for meat, and so on.  They will in return lose revenue because of less people purchasing their products.  However the ASPCA is not looking to shut down these industries, mainly just to have these palaces provide better care and treatment for their services.   

Are there ways in which the social movement you have chosen might be reframed to be more inclusive?

I think that the ASPCA has done a incredible job of taking such a serious matter and making it heard world wide.  No laws would have ever stood had the ASPCA not been formed.  I am not sure what other ways they could have bettered themselves as a foundation, because they have clearly become a house hold recognized group and many people do donate and help with their causes to better all animals.   Time is there only object, the sky is the limit and regulation and rules that can be made in order to help animals and their futures.  I for one will be waiting to see what other measures are enforced from the ASPCA in order to help generations of animals to come.