STUDY: You are what you eat: Exploring Veg*nism as a social identity
As a whole, Veg*ns have traits distinct from omnivores. They tend to be more concerned with the well-being of other people and society and have more liberal political views.
MARA THOMAS: Veganism and vegetarianism fit social science’s definition of “identities.” Because eating is often a public activity, veg*nism is a socially visible choice. Veg*n’s food choices place them in a distinctive social group, separate from omnivores. Some veg*ns use their diet to express beliefs and connect to others with similar values. Eventually, living as a veg*n can influence a person’s broader life outlook, moral views, health priorities, career path, or life goals. Still, the relationship between meat consumption and identity is complex. There are several factors that shape how and to what degree a meat-free diet relates to identity. This study set out to better define how this happens.
First, not all veg*ns chose their diet. This article focused mainly on people who are ve*gns by choice. When veg*nism is a choice, dietary habits do not always match with identity. Some people may not eat any meat but also not identify with the veg*n label. Others may identify as a veg*n but still eat some meat. 5% of adults in the United States identify as veg*n but only 3% eat a diet that excludes all animal products. For this reason, the number of people identifying as veg*n may not always match with the amount of meat or plant foods consumed…
For those who do identify as vegan or vegetarian, specific motivations for eliminating animal products are important to identity. The three most common motivations for veg*nism are animal welfare, health, and the environment. Most veg*ns cite a combination of these three factors as the reason they stick to their diet. One study found that a veg*n’s primary motivation was correlated with certain behaviors and diet outcomes. Veg*ns who were highly motivated by health concerns were more likely to eat a restrictive diet. Those motivated mainly by environmental concerns were more likely to report that non-veg*ns saw them in a negative light. Environmental veg*ns also experienced lower self-esteem…
Identity may also develop differently based on the specific kind of diet a person follows. Veganism and vegetarianism exist as distinct identities. Vegans see other vegans in a more positive light than they see vegetarians. They also hold a lower opinion of omnivores than vegetarians do… As a whole, veg*ns have traits distinct from omnivores. They tend to be more concerned with the well-being of other people and society. Veg*ns also tend to have more liberal political views…
At the same time, vegans tend to have worse mental health when compared to omnivores… A possible explanation for this is that veg*ns are social minorities. Even by the most generous estimates, veg*ns make up less than 10% of the population. Social minorities are more likely to experience criticism, judgment, and alienation by mainstream culture. One study confirmed that omnivores tended to associate vegans and vegetarians with negative terms and self-righteousness. Veg*ns may also suffer as a result of their values and beliefs… Studies confirm that prosocial attitudes relate to decreased well-being in the general population. SOURCE…
RELATED VIDEO: