Twenty-three years ago, I did the unthinkable: I became a vegan. I was a vegetarian for 10 years, and for all those years I viewed veganism – avoiding not only animal flesh but also eggs, dairy products, and honey – as extreme. I told myself that eating eggs and cheese couldn’t hurt anyone.
A visit to a livestock shelter changed my mind. We met cows rescued from dairy farms, but they were so overworked they could barely walk. There were also chickens rescued from the egg industry. The chickens spent most of their lives crammed with four other birds in a bleak cage the size of a filing cabinet drawer.
That day, I became vegan, but I quickly learned that I was in the minority. It’s hard to say what percentage of the U.S. population is vegan, but estimates are as follows: 1% To Five%But on average, one quarter 70% of us identify as male. vegans of the worldThe numbers for men also remain low.
The reason many men don’t embrace the vegan lifestyle is becauseNot manly” Meat is inseparable from protein, and men have been taught that animal protein makes their bodies stronger. Similarly, the idea that plant foods are delicate and feminine is ingrained in many Western cultures, where men too often believe that only meat can keep them healthy.
still study rear study Vegan diets are not only healthy for humans; planet Eating meat and dairy products is associated with a variety of health problems. Heart disease and certain cancerThe livestock industry also produces large amounts of greenhouse gases and is an important industry. Key Contributors against the climate crisis.
So is it possible to overcome the narrative that veganism is unmanly? I think so. The solution lies in reframing the concept of masculinity itself. Masculinity is, let’s be honest, just a social construct.
We can separate masculinity and food. Or, better yet, you can show that veganism meets all the needs of everyone who identifies as a man. Freed from the burden of society’s expectations of men in general and masculinity in particular, we can understand ourselves more broadly and more truly.
Stereotypical expectations of men, such as being strong, courageous, and protective, can be viewed through a vegan lens.
Men’s dietary attitudes tend to center around eating meat to gain strength, reinforce gender identity, and even dominate other species. However, the strongest land animals, such as elephants, cows, buffalo, and rhinos, build their muscles by eating plants. The ancient Romans may have observed this as well. Gladiators, considered one of the toughest athletes, were adamant about eating meat. Gladiatorium SaginumA diet based on plant foods such as beans, legumes and grains.
Courage is another virtue that men take to heart, and it fits right into the rethinking of masculinity and diet. It takes courage to stand up not only to the slaughter of animals, but also to the peer pressure to eat meat. He told the researchers A study of men’s perceptions of meat substitutes revealed that they were worried about photos of themselves eating at vegan restaurants being posted on social media. He says, “I don’t want my friends to laugh at me for eating a plant-based burger.”
Many men take pride in being guardians, especially guardians of their families and homes. meaning of veganism By abstaining from the exploitation and consumption of animals, vegans participate in the protection of countless vulnerable species and the environment, especially when they extend their ethics beyond what they eat.
I suspect that men who mock vegans, such as the men who mocked the vegan flyers I handed out on college campuses, feel threatened and perhaps even a little embarrassed. How else to explain the mockery of a delicious, nutritious way of eating that is far better for everyone? The benefits of a vegan diet are becoming clear, but so are the harms of eating animals.
But some men still feel the need for posturing, as if even expressing an interest in veganism would diminish their masculinity. I found this at a gym I used to go to. It’s a place where stereotypes of male strength are often on display. I was wearing a T-shirt that said “VEGAN” in bold letters on the front. Other men often acknowledged the message with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
“Where do you get protein?” one asked me.
“It’s from plants,” I said, and he scoffed. “You need meat to build muscle and become strong.”
“Try telling that to a gorilla,” I said.
Mark Hawthorne is the director of the non-profit rabbit conservation organization Save the Buns, and is the author of .Vegan Ethics: Embracing a Compassionate Life for All. ”
