Images of Cows, Stories of Gender

Abstract

Beginning from a series of miscommunications, misunderstandings and seemingly incongruous connections, this chapter explores how three trans- or interdisciplinary areas of research might meet. By exploring the way that cattle are depicted in trade magazines, the chapter discusses how perspectives informed by gender studies, animal studies and rural development might examine how animals are both mirrors of rural gender relations and active in them. Such meetings of different perspectives might help to build towards more sustainable rural futures as they challenge the way that gendered narratives have implications for individual farmers. In addition the chapter points to ways that these narratives have material impacts as animal caretaking and the bodies of individual animals are shaped in response to these gendered narratives.