Home     About        FAQs        Feedback    Take Action    Downloads     MythWatch   Advanced Advocacy    Store   


HUMANE MYTH
GLOSSARY:
Co-option



Bookmark and Share          

 HUMANE MYTH GLOSSARY
Abolition
Animal advocacy
Animal husbandry
Animal protection
Animal rights
Animal welfare
Animal welfare industrial complex
Animal-using industries
Co-option
Commodification
Conflict of Interest
Conscience
Conscientious objection
Critical thinking
Cruelty-free
Disillusionment
Doctrine of necessary evil
Happy Meat
Hogwashing
Humane myth
Humane slaughter
Neocarnism
Non-participation and Non-cooperation
Non-violent social change
Open Rescue
Path of Conscience
Plant-based diet
Privilege of domination
Speciesism
Suffering
Sustainable
Utilitarianism
Values-based activism
Vegan
 






Co-option

In the context of a social justice movement or a cause, co-option can be defined as the process of diverting people, resources, organizations and public attention away from activities that serve the long term goals of a justice movement and toward activities that serve the often hidden short term agendas of individuals, nonprofit organizations, corporations or government entities that may on the surface appear to support a cause, but in reality operate in ways that would disappoint and even shock supporters of the cause were they to be revealed. The basic dynamic involves manipulating private and public perceptions in a manner that causes the energy of idealism to be converted into a tool for the advancement of goals that are not themselves idealistic.