Dr. Emily Major is a Critical Animal Studies scholar and academic activist whose research explores how cultural narratives shape human relationships with other animals, particularly those labelled as ‘pests’. She coined the subfield of Critical Pest Studies, an offshoot of Critical Animal Studies, and is working on several pieces that are soon to be published, which develop it further. Her most recent publication examines the concept of animal “boogeymen” in folklore, media, and conservation discourse, investigating how species are constructed as symbolic threats and how these representations contribute to fear, exclusion, and real-world violence against animals. Drawing on critical theory, animal studies, and media/communication theory, she analyzes how animals, such as brushtail possums, are framed as villains, invaders, and enemies within dominant conservation narratives.

Emily completed her Ph.D. in Human-Animal Studies at the University of Canterbury, focusing on possum advocacy and compassionate conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and commissioned volumes, including work on anti-possum rhetoric, speciesism, and the cultural politics of wildlife management. Combining scholarship with public engagement and advocacy, Emily seeks to challenge harmful narratives about marginalized animal species and promote more ethical, compassionate, and socially just approaches to human-animal relations. Her work bridges academia and activism to advance critical conversations about power, representation, and what it really means to be allies with and for other animals.