Pigs and Power: Tracking the Genealogical Evolution of Pigs from Symbols of Fertility to Weapons of Masculine Hegemony in Jewish and Christian Contexts

Abstract

This dissertation explores the complex and paradoxical role of pigs in the cultural and religious imaginations of Abrahamic faith groups. It investigates why pigs, despite being a universal symbol of uncleanliness in Abrahamic contexts, have such divergent significance in Jewish, Islamic, and Christian consumption practices. The research argues that pigs were historically associated with femininity, polytheism, and fertility in ancient Near Eastern cultures, making them symbols of antinormativity within the emerging proto-Israelite masculine hegemony. This led to the pig's metonymic association with the outsider and its utilisation as a boundary-defining symbol in gender and religious power dynamics. The thesis takes inspiration from the Foucauldian theory that meaning making is an evolving, constructive process that occurs over time. The genealogical method dictates that the meaning of pigs is not static or universal but evolves under diverse cultural and religious influences over time and is uniquely interpreted in the present by the viewer depending on cultural context, group solidarity, and agenda. These evolving influences are traced in this work through shared religious histories and diverging religious transitions where significant cultural shifts emphasised, redefined, and solidified the contextual layered meaning of pigs at each point in time and shaped how they are interpreted in the present. Throughout history, pigs have been used as tools of masculine hierarchy to reinforce positions of power in various contexts, including early Christianity's efforts to distinguish itself from Judaism. This thesis also examines the pig's role in contemporary Western identity politics, where it continues to symbolise and reinforce racial, religious, and gendered hierarchies. This thesis proposes a novel approach to interreligious and intercultural dialogue, termed the "dialogue of sublimation," which uses the pig as a unifying symbol to address underlying masculine hegemonic tendencies and improve cultural and religious relations. The study highlights the pig's potential as a totem for female emancipation and addresses the ethical considerations concerning pig welfare, challenging traditional views, and encouraging transformative dialogue. By reevaluating the cultural and religious significance of pigs, this dissertation aims to contribute to broader discussions on identity, power, oppression, and interreligious relations.