What is speciesism?

Speciesism is a concept that implies a bias or prejudice against taking the interests of non-human beings seriously. This term was popularized by Peter Singer, although it was initially coined by Richard Ryder. Speciesism suggests that humans tend to view themselves as more important than other animals, often justifying the exploitation and mistreatment of animals for various purposes like food, research, and entertainment. Singer argues that the significance of pain and suffering should not depend on the species of the being experiencing it, much like it shouldn't depend on their race or gender 1.