Adopting veganism means taking responsibility in the face of an injustice inflicted on those who cannot speak for themselves. If you are a man, it is worth recognizing that veganism is anything but weakness. It requires determination, courage, and moral strength to question inherited norms and to stand up for the vulnerable. If anything, caring is not a rejection of masculinity, but a redefinition of it.
ANACLARA LOZINA: According to many recent surveys, there are around 88 million vegans in the world, which compared to 8 billion people, equals around 1.1% of the world’s population. What is interesting though, is that according to studies done by several organizations, 67% of those vegans are women, leaving only 33% of vegan men in the world…
So, the question isn’t whether there is a gender gap in veganism, but why it exists—and what it reveals about how we understand masculinity, empathy, and ethical responsibility. While many claim that the reason behind this huge difference is that women are simply “more compassionate by nature”, research on empathy and ethics suggests something far more complex: socialization, not biology, plays the leading role…
It’s not so difficult to find clear examples in history of how dominion, hierarchy, and violence have been associated to being “a man”, not only regarding humans but also non human animals. From hunting to imperialism and modern systems of control, the exploitation and use of other beings—mainly by men—have helped build a model of masculinity that continues to shape how men understand themselves…
The same can be traced back about women’s established social role. Historically, women have been socially rewarded — not biologically predisposed — for care, concern, and moral reflection… However, interestingly, many of the earliest leaders of animal rights movements were not women, but men. Thinkers such as Lewis Gompertz and Henry S. Salt rejected not only cruelty but the very legitimacy of using animals as resources, drawing direct inspiration from human abolitionist movements…
So why does the gender gap persist today? Veganism threatens masculine identity, not logic, and getting rid of the idea of what “makes you a man” can be socially challenging. This is because ethical restraint is still coded as weakness. The use of animals for food, clothing, and other purposes is deeply embedded in historical and cultural practices, which makes these behaviors feel natural, necessary, and morally neutral…
Adopting veganism means taking responsibility in the face of an injustice inflicted on those who cannot speak for themselves. If you are a man, it is worth recognizing that veganism is anything but weakness. It requires determination, courage, and moral strength to question inherited norms and to stand up for the vulnerable. If anything, caring is not a rejection of masculinity, but a redefinition of it. SOURCE
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