It’s summer! For us Brits, that means unprecedented heatwaves, exchanges of ‘bit hot isn’t it’ and some drama in Parliament before MPs break up for recess. Since returning to the UK, I’ve delved into planning my next adventure while still checking in on Prado del Rey. During my morning scroll I was reminded that it’s bullfighting season in Spain. This came in the form of Facebook battles between the citizens of my little Spanish town. Being a quiet observer of Facebook groups can be fascinating, and let’s be honest, pretty entertaining. The most recent debate follows an annual bullfight in the town. It reminded me of my own difficulties accepting something I see as abhorrent as ✨culture✨ to someone else.
Culture or cruelty?
Being an anthropology graduate, we looked at ‘cultural relativism’ when researching cultures different to our own. This essentially means not judging ethical standards in a different culture and not placing your own values on the situation. As I’m an avid supporter of animal rights and welfare, I’ve often had internal battles when visiting other countries and seeing poor treatment of creatures. However in Spain, it feels increasingly difficult to use culture as an excuse for some outdated practices, and a growing number of Spaniards agree.
During my year abroad in Spain in 2015/16, I attended a protest in Madrid against a ‘sport’ called the Toro de la Vega. This medieval activity involves a number of people on horseback chasing bulls through the town of Valladolid and attacking them with a lance (basically a spear, I did say it was medieval). The atmosphere at the protest was electric and passionate, which was unsurprising. Cities are naturally more liberal, with views often conflicting with countryside-folk. As I’m not Spanish, I did feel out of place being at a protest, however I saw it as a social research expedition.
Battles in Blighty
One argument in the UK which is almost identical to the culture battle in Spain, is the fox-hunting debate. Culture, again, being used to justify the practice of setting hounds on foxes in the countryside. Being British, I thankfully didn’t have to bow to the cultural relativity excuse in the fox-hunting debate. At University, I went all-in and joined a local animal rights group who used direct action to disrupt fox-hunts in the area, and I’m now probably on a farmer’s hit-list in a little corner of Devon. Thankfully, fox-hunting is outlawed in the UK. Sadly that doesn’t stop pockets of illegal hunts taking place between October and May, with poor enforcement of the law by local police.
A growing debate
During my time as an english language assistant in Spain, I was curious to know what the students thought about bullfighting. I often had conversations with the older students during class, so I brought it up. It felt like a 50/50 split between those who supported bullfighting, and those who didn’t. Those who didn’t often kept their views a little quieter than others. However I felt quite comfortable explaining I didn’t support the activity, and we began a good-spirited debate listening to those on both sides of the argument. Predictably, on Facebook, those social niceties go out of the window. Those supporting the bullfight passionately assert that the bulls are looked after with great care until the last day, signing off with VIVA ESPANA, need I say more? Others have gone onto say the bulls die with dignity, thus justifying it. However, it’s clear that those opposing bullfighting are increasing in numbers, citing the cruelty and lack of empathy that comes with bullfighting.
Now that I’m back in England, I don’t have to hold my tongue in the face of out-dated traditions and questionable treatment of animals. Being culturally aware helps to explain oddities in a new country, as well as knowing what behaviour is OK there. But you’re not required to accept it. Perhaps bull-fighting in Spain will follow in the steps of the fox-hunting debate, eventually leading to a ban, but not without a culture war first.
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