Response to "Gender Roles and Vegetarianism."

Response #1

In Hallie's blog, she confronts the relationship of vegetarianism to gender. According to a 1992 Yankelovich study in the Vegetarian Times, 12.4 million people call themselves vegetarians and 68 percent are female while only 32 percent are male. In my 19 years of life on this planet, the only male vegetarian I have known is my grandfather who was choosing such a lifestyle for health reasons. Most males I talk to about my choice to be vegetarian scoff and go on about how meat is delicious and meant for our consumption or something along those lines. Meat is masculine. Haven't you heard of the "Manwich"? Hallie asks the question, "Why do you think some men perceive vegetarianism as something that makes them a weaker human being and have you ever had experiences with those type of people, male or female?"

Our society is stuck in our gender roles. Women are supposed to be more sensitive and caring while men need to be tough. They are not supposed to think about what is on their plates; they just need to eat it and enjoy. The more meat the better. On the other hand, women may choose to be vegetarians because they are more aware of what they eat and want to be healthier. According to statistics gathered by Men's Health magazine, women visit the doctor an average of 6.2 times per year and men 4.5 times per year and, in most cases, people choose to be vegetarian for a healthier lifestyle.

When I watched the PETA video "Meet your Meat," (it can be found on Youtube!) I was disgusted and emotional. However, when I showed it to my brother, boyfriend, and other male friends, they exclaimed that it made them want to eat a cheeseburger. It's hard to say whether they really meant that or they just wanted to seem "strong." The large difference in women vegetarians to men can, like Hallie said, stem back to the hunting and gathering lifestyle, but it is time to move on. Even though it's quite prevalent that meat is masculine, I don't know how society can get past this.

My question to you is: Because of your gender, do you feel pressured or like its your obligation to eat certain foods (like a salad if you're female, and a bacon cheeseburger if you're male)? How can we get past this idea that meat is manly?

Vegetarianism.

In The Animal Ethics Reader, the author lists prominent individuals from the past who lived a vegetarian lifestyle. For example, Henry David Thoreau, George Bernard Shaw, Susan B. Anthony, Albert Einstein, Plato, Gautama Buddha, Henry Salt, and many more, were all vegetarians. "Once it had been accepted that animals had feelings and therefore should be treated with kindness, it seemed increasingly repugnant to kill them for meat(page 5)." Because many people feel uneasy about eating meat, slaughterhouses are hidden from the public's view. However, it's no secret that animals are brutally killed for our consumption more often than not. So why are only five out of every 1,000 people vegetarians? (Vegetarian Times) Some people (53 percent, according to the Vegetarian Times) become vegetarian to be more healthy. Other reasons are to better the environment, to show respect towards animals, and simply because it is often viewed as wrong to eat animal flesh.

To me, eating meat is not 'right'. How can a person consume something with a beating heart? If a person cannot bear to kill the animal or even watch the animal being killed, how can it be put into his or her body? I'm not going to lie, when I did eat meat, I loved it. Nothing like a rare steak drowned in steak-sauce to please my taste buds. I get it, meat is yummy. Plus, we're the more powerful species and we've been eating animals forever, so why change these ways, right? I know it sounds like I'm advocating vegetarianism but I don't mean to push my views onto anyone. I just want to understand how eating an animal can be justified.

So that's my question: What valid reasons are there for justifying the consumption of meat?

Welcome!

Welcome to my Ethics & Animals blog. My name is Skyla and I promise to keep my posts as intriguing and eye-opening as I can for you as the reader. Throughout the course of the semester, I plan on posting two to three entries or more a week about topics discussed in class, in the reading, in my life, and so on. The subject of ethics and animals has greatly interested me for as long as I can remember. I have studied the treatment of the meat industry on animals, vivisection, vegetarianism and so on. I would say I have more knowledge than some (but I am certainly no expert) because I'm not afraid to know the truth when it comes to how animals are treated. Although it can be very painstaking and highly disturbing to see the types of abuse humans are capable of inflicting upon animals, I still do not want to be left in the dark. I have been attempting to be a vegetarian ever since I was in seventh grade, and when I finally entered college, the newfound independence gave me the chance to choose my own food and I have been meatless ever since. My view is that, if you can't kill an animal or even watch it being killed, than why should you eat it? I love animals and I know this class will definitely further my knowledge about the ethics of animal treatment and my views will certainly grow, one way or another. Basically, I'm wicked excited for this class and I hope you are too. Please feel free to leave me many comments. :)