Ecological crimes, children and the culture of violence: cockfighting and the use of wild animals as pets in Mexico

Abstract

The socio-ecological justice perspective is concerned with the culture and power of the market, the predominance of a vision that sees animals as inferior, exploitable and expendable. It pays attention to abuse, violence and death, considers harm as a social and ecological crime regardless of legality and, recognizes the suffering of a series of victims who have historically been invisible both to justice systems and society in general. This chapter examines, from the perspective of socio-ecological justice and through an ethnographic lens, two markets with deep cultural roots and tradition in Mexico: wild animals as pets and the colonial legacy of fighting cocks for entertainment, with the aim of critically analysing victimization and violence in relation to children and the treatment of animals.