Background
Guri Larsen holds a degree in Criminology from the University of Oslo, and has been working at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law since 1989.
Larsen's main focus has been on social defence and the marginalization of different groups. In her work she has addressed topics such as: immigration policies, violence among young immigrants, the school systems and minority families, and the history and development of the Norwegian Child Care Legislation. In her latest research she studies the abuse of animals as a criminal offence as well as legal action.
Her current research project is entitled ”From copulation and birth – to slaughter and food” and deals with the life-cycles of animals in the industrialised agriculture. The study aims to shed light on the history behind meat production, and the ambiguous and contradictory space between society's sense of decency, and what is considered benefical for a society regarding the infliction of pain on animals. Furthermore, aims to develop a theoretical perspective as to understand how it is possible to inflict pain on living creatures as a legal and - in general - approved praxis.