In Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the term “chicken head” is used to refer to a derogatory label for people who have suffered significant mental degradation, often as a result of being exposed to the radioactive fallout of the World War Terminus. These individuals are left with severe impairments and are often considered social outcasts. The term illustrates the stark divide between the so-called ‘normal’ humans and those who have been impacted by the war, highlighting themes of humanity, empathy, and the value placed on human life in a dystopian society.
Furthermore, the use of the term serves to emphasize the desperation and debasement of the unfortunate survivors in a world where androids, designed to resemble humans, are more capable and sometimes more ‘human’ than the humans themselves. It raises questions about identity and what it truly means to be human, echoing the book’s broader existential themes.