Is the way dairy cows are spoken about and treated symptomatic of the misogynist way females are viewed?

[nunnun]

New Zealand's top dairy farmer was stripped of his award for "unacceptable" social media comments referencing animal abuse.
It was revealed that Nick Bertram posted a series of tweets including his suggested methods for introducing the cows to milking. One of his tweets, referring to dairy cows read:

"Put a pipe up their cunt and blow them up with air. Works a treat - they freeze to the spot and let milk down"

Seems unnecessary (can't say anything else)

I thought you just held their tails on their backs and talked to them

Breastfeeding my kids has made me give up eating products from mammals.

I suddenly felt this empathy with dairy cows that I couldn't shake.

Ugh he sounds like a right c**t

No, I think you're reading too much into it. He's just a dick.

That's vile. And yes, I do think that the exploitation of both female human and non human animals are related. A sort of general belief that we're entitled to use the body and reproductive biology of any female for any reason. That's why I'm always so baffled at vegans that are against the dairy industry but pro surrogacy, or recognise that the female reproductive system is being exploited in cows but refuse to accept that there even is any such thing as a female reproductive system in humans. Years ago I saw a quote somewhere which said "you can't be a feminist and drink milk" and I thought it was hands down the stupidest thing I'd ever read. Then I became a breast feeding mother and I thought, actually I can see where they were coming from. Now I'm a vegan and a feminist the connection between those idea feels much clearer.

Farming is one area where both sexes suffer. Particularly industrial farming. Baby males (chicks and calves) are killed in very casual and often cruel ways.
Modern farming isn't very nice.

Yes

After BF myself the idea of getting cows pregnant, taking their calves, and then milking then made me feel quite ill.

Most farming primarily exploits the female animals.

That comment up upthread is gross. The whole thing is linked. The way women's reproductive health globally is a matter for politics. Regimes and countries have had forced birth/ forced abortion. The simultaneous need to females with the repugnance by their bodies.

TBH if you care about animals, but don't want to go vegan. Probably ditch dairy but eat eg mussels. Veggies don't like it when I say that (or when I did in the 90s, I'm not such an arse now).

Females produce useful things. Milk. Babies. Eggs. And are exploited across a number of species.

OTOH males are not useful and killed. Chicks on one hand. Boko haram killing the men and boys and older women and taking the young women and girls.

Same same.

I mean the males don't have a great time either.

In case that wasn't clear!

There is also an analogy in the exploitation of natural resources by mainly male run companies with little thought for consequences or the future.

I see the connection too. Feminist and vegan here.

I agree with PP breastfeeding really made me see it, although I was vegan before that, it just made me feel so much more deeply about the issue.

The cows and calves both suffer so much from their separation. It is not even possible now for a dairy cow to suckle her calf, the way humans have bred them their udders are too big and hang too low, the calf can't position itself underneath. Seeing a dairy cow next to a beef cow the difference is stark. The udder of a beef cow is not at all prominent and calves stretch their mouths up to feed in the same way a foal does from a mare. Dairy calves still have a desperate need to suckle, just like our human babies. If you hold out your fingers to them they will suck frantically.

That man is a total dick and what he said is disgusting.

DaisiesandButtercups - you are however wrong to say dairy cows won't feed their own calves. Ours do and we just milk out the extra.

SOME won't and SOME have no maternal drive.

SOME calves are snatched at birth.

You can farm but be ethical. It will cost more for the end product, a bit like free range eggs, but IMO is infinitely worth it.

The trouble is people want cheap food and don't care how it is produced. I believe education is key, (I am a teacher 😁) but it doesn't have to be the way it is.

I think you may be right, OP. The intensive dairy farming is so widely accepted

Is the way male chicks are treated symptomatic of the misandrist way males are treated?

Obviously not. It's ok to realize humans are different from animals and not have to tie your feminism to the struggle of every oppressed creature.

I mean, it's obviously not the same womb. What is the misogyny that women face? It's to do with the exploitation of our biological processes and resources. Human females, like all other female placental mammals, produce milk and babies and are exploited for these. The parallels with the dairy industry are very clear. What is the misandry that men face in society? I guess MRAs would say things like, fewer rights over their children? More likely to do dangerous physical jobs? Historically expected to go to war/sacrifice themselves for a cause? While male chicks and calves are often killed at birth or killed for meat because their bodies don't produce anything of value. So no parallels whatsoever with the position of human males in society. Not everything can be turned on its head to also apply to men, and ideas arent invalidated because they're only relevent to women.

@CairParavel thanks for this. I knew there was a book I've been meaning to read on this subject for years, but I'd forgotten the title and author. I can certainly buy the concept that the same mindset underpins the exploitation of animals and of women, and I'd like to see how the idea is developed.

Some interesting points here, thank you. I find I readily identify with the suffering of dairy cows and goats, and the victims of puppy farming, (notably the mothers). I do believe that the cynicism within the dairy industry is synonymous with the exploitation of female biology in sex trafficking, pornography, etc.

Thanks @CairParavel for the book recommendation, I'm looking it up right now.