A/simetrija životinja i žena: Ekofeministička perspektiva diskursa o placenti
A/simmetry of animals and women: the ecofeminist perspective of discourses on placenta

Author(s): Neda Radulović
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Social Theory
Published by: Durieux
Keywords: placenta; placentophagia; ecofeminism; a/symmetry between women and animals; feminist–vegan theory;
Summary/Abstract: The present paper offers an analysis of dominant and alternative narratives about placenta, and especially placentophagia. It will examine the cultural construction of disgust and ask why most people find the idea of eating their own placenta objectionable, whilst recognizing animal organs as gustative and healthy. The important hypothesis of this paper is that the dominant, patriarchal narratives construct placenta as abject and that the abjectification of placenta is based on the human/animal dichotomy. By looking at the changing attitudes to placenta in the context of birth culture until the 18th century, as well as contemporary (and contrasting) narratives about placenta, this paper offers ecofeminist, and feminist–vegan conceptualization of placentophagia. The ecofeminist perspective will shed light on placenta as a case study showing how patriarchal culture constructs narratives that represent women and animals in both symmetrical and asymmetrical ways. The asymmetrical treatment of women and animals, as the narratives about placenta will show, refers to the speciest privileging based on the in/exclusion from the category of human.

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