To submit to the stereotype, I will say first and foremost that I myself am a vegan, and have been for a year and a half. Veganism has enabled me to achieve a healthy relationship with food, which is truly a blessing because of my long history of disordered eating. I have compassion for animal lives and I think it is important everyone is educated on the cruel methods utilized daily in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. I am privileged enough to have the money, resources, and support that allows me to engage in this lifestyle that has immensely improved my mental health, physical health, and aligns with my moral beliefs. I understand not everyone has the opportunity to be vegan and therefore I think vilifying animal product consumers is counterproductive. We can spread awareness of animal exploitation in a welcoming way rather than a method that further ostracizes ourselves from the rest of the population. Factors such as culture, class, amount of education, and personal needs contribute to whether it is realistic for someone to become vegan. It is hard to remember that outside of our developed world improving animal rights would be at the expense of already suffering masses of human lives. Human lives need to be a priority, we can’t expect everyone to convert to veganism when humans are constantly experiencing poverty and discrimination. Stating everyone should be vegan if they believe in equality is offensive to those who don’t have the option, or fairly prioritize other issues that affect themselves and other human lives.
My animal rights activism has always taken a backseat to my focus on human rights. While I think animals deserve more respect and fair treatment, I believe human life is more valuable. This is where myself and many of my fellow vegan activists don’t see eye to eye. I think whether you believe animal and human life are equal or not, you need to be aware that comparing racism to the concept of speciesism is offensive and demeaning to those who have experienced a long history of systematic oppression. White people spent years dehumanizing black people and comparing them to animals as a way to claim and enslave them. By actively equating animal life to human life, you are marginalizing the groups of people who suffered as a result of similar beliefs.
Gary Yourofsky, an animal rights activist responsible for converting thousands of people to the vegan lifestyle with a viral speech, continuously compares the animal industry to the Holocaust. He has called the animal industry the largest genocide in history and has been banned from Canada and the UK as a result of his controversial views. Personally, I think comparing one of the most horrifying event in history to the normalized animal industry is not only wrong, but will turn a lot of people away from veganism. He is suggesting that the actions of the Nazis is as unjust as the animal industry; which many Holocaust survivors and researchers believe dehumanizes the victims and makes a mockery out of the events that occurred. The organization PETA also has a long history of dehumanizing victims of rape and abuse in attempt to get messages across. In November of 2016, PETA released a video where many women discussed what seemed to be their experience with sexual assault and trauma. The women recited lines such as “One man held me down, while another man touched me,” and “I was so scared. I didn’t know what I had done wrong.” Then it becomes clear that the ad is an attempt to express how cows and pigs in the meat industry feel. The ad ends with the quote, “Every year, billions of animals are born into the meat, egg and dairy industries. Almost all of them are a result of forcible artificial insemination. Almost all of them are a result of rape. Don’t participate, go vegan.” While I’m absolutely against the abuse animals face in these situations, the ad was both insensitive and demeaning to past sexual assault victims. These are all examples of using marginalized groups as a tool to get the vegan message across. For those who suffer, it is offensive and often feels like further discrimination.
There is a time and place for animal rights activism, and unfortunately I’ve come across vegans advocating animal rights in inappropriate places. Many vegans are guilty of overshadowing campaigns for minority groups at events such as annual Pride Parades, Black Lives Matter protests, and even the recent Women’s Marches. One must remember people at these events are facing oppression and are often ignored by those in power.
By showing up and promoting veganism rather than supporting those marginalized groups, you are overshadowing and belittling people desperate to be heard, which actually makes you an oppressor.
Yes, an oppressor, because advocating your beliefs by silencing others and not acknowledging your privilege is a way of using your power against those groups.
I think animal rights activism is important and commendable, but it shouldn’t use tactics that trivialize and overshadow human struggles. If you claim to be vegan because you believe in equality, then stop vilifying our global community, and take into account they are also battling xenophobia, racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, war, violence, and bigotry. Show empathy and listen to what they have to say, and in return they will hear your message more clearly. Support them in their struggles and fight for the rights of your people, because I assure you, your animal rights activism is not going to succeed if you are simultaneously turning a blind eye to those struggling in our society.
