The Relationships Between Law-Breaking and Law-Abiding Ideological Animal Rights Activists and Their Parents and Spouses

This phenomenological research examined family relationships among ideological nonhuman-animal rights activists, while distinguishing between law-breaking and law-abiding activists. Analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 activists highlighted two phases within the familial dynamics. During the joining phase, conflicts arose between the participants' identities as activists and their identities as family members, creating a crisis in their relations with their parents and spouses. During the establishing phase, however, different familial dynamics developed among each group. The law-breaking activists were able to balance family life with their activism, ensuring the preservation of the relationship. By contrast, to try and maintain peaceful relations, the law-abiding activists kept their activism from their family, leading to a deterioration in the relationship. The findings are interpreted through literature dealing with the family dynamics of social activists in general, and animal rights activists in particular.