Effective Altruism on Animal Activism — A Site of Ableism and Neoliberal Co-optation of Neurodivergence

Effective Altruism, or EA, is a relatively recent framework and movement introduced to global philanthropic spaces (Singer, 2015), relying on “careful analysis of evidence” (Gabriel, 2017, p. 458) to answer the question, “How can I make the biggest difference I can?” (MacAskill, 2016, p. 11). It has been touted as an efficient method for maximizing the amount of good done through charitable donations targeting the most urgent social issues (MacAskill, 2016), including, according to effective altruists, animal welfare (Singer, 2015). Criticisms of EA have also emerged, particularly from progressive activists, academics, and journalists, who frequently express skepticism or dismiss EA entirely as guiding praxis for the pursuit of animal liberation and other social justice goals (e.g., Adams et al., 2023). Inspired by a critical discourse analysis (van Dijk, 1993) approach, this project conducts a broad survey of the most relevant existing literature covering Effective Altruism and its intersections with critical animal studies (CAS) and critical disability studies (CDS) theory. I submit, as some other scholars have done (ex. Adams et al., 2023; Broad, 2018), that Effective Altruism does more harm than good to the broader animal activism movement. I add to existing literature by arguing that Effective Altruism co-opts many strengths and traits associated with Autistic individuals into a neoliberal vision of charity over solidarity (Spade, 2020). However, in the spirit of “wounded flourishing” (Haraway, 2016, p. 120; Shotwell, 2016), I nonetheless identify in EA valuable insights that can be transferred to an alternate, autism-inclusive animal liberation framework. I conclude by pointing to various relevant CAS/CDS scholars/theories whose theoretical work aligns with a more radical vision of disability-inclusive and autism-inclusive animal liberation (e.g. Singer, 1998; Nocella, 2012; Best, 2014).

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. Social Justice and Equity Studies

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Social Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Social Justice and Equity Studies Program

Grantor dc:publisher

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Stokes, Shae

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dolgert, Stefan

• Critical animal studies
• Critical disability studies
• Effective altruism
• Neurodivergence
• Autism

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10464/20293

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/20293