A True Feminist Is Also Vegan
As feminists, we are committed to fighting against oppression and advocating for equality.
In the face of persistent gender injustice, deep-rooted racism, and the growing tide of homophobia, many of us have realized that we must think intersectionally, forge alliances, and stand together against oppression in all its forms.
However, in this quest for a holistic approach, the feminist movement still has a major inconsistency: many of us are overlooking the oppression and suffering of animals.
Wait — animals? How are feminism and the treatment of animals even related? Turns out: in a lot of ways. Let’s start with the most obvious one:
The entire animal industry is built on the exploitation of the female reproductive system!
Take the dairy industry, for example…
Rape and Abuse in the Dairy Industry
As soon as they reach puberty — usually less than two years old — dairy cows are forcibly impregnated in what the industry calls “rape rack”. This procedure is highly invasive, often requiring farmers to stick their fist into the cows’ anus.
After carrying their babies for nine months, just like humans, mother cows give birth. This is repeated about every 12 months. When the baby cow is born, it is immediately taken away from its mother. Why? Because if it stayed around mom, it would drink her milk. Like all other mammals, cows produce milk for their babies. But cow babies won’t get their moms’ milk because humans consume it.
As if they were machines, dairy cows are rated based on their “milk yield”, “lactation curve”, “conception rate” and “reproductive performance”.
Humans are the only species that consumes the breast milk of another species.
The widespread belief that cow’s milk is necessary for healthy bones has long been debunked as a big lie orchestrated by the dairy industry to increase milk sales. Large population studies and twin studies have shown that we live healthier without dairy and other animal products.
As humans, we need cows’ milk as little as we need rat milk, dog milk or orang-utan milk.
Nonetheless, cows are are forced to endure the horrors of the dairy industry. They are bred to produce nearly 10 times as much milk as they would naturally. As a result, they often suffer from painful udder infections (which is also the reason why there is often pus in cow’s milk).
It is common in the industry for cows to be completely exhausted and “go down” after 4 or 5 years of continuous milk production— which is when they are sent to the slaughterhouse. The natural life expectancy of cows is 15–20 years.
What a f***ing nightmare!
This Goes Far Beyond Dairy
I picked the dairy industry as an illustrative example. But the problem goes far beyond that. It encompasses the entire animal industry.
Whether for lactation or to produce offspring, all farmed animals have their reproductive system exploited for profit — using tools with fancy names such as “fertilization injection gun”, “pork stork” or the above-mentioned “rape rack”. Even chicken eggs come straight from a reproductive organ called — surprise! — ovary.
For any sincere feminist, the above should be reason enough to ditch animal products and become an outspoken vegan.
But that’s still far from all…
What Feminism and Veganism Have in Common
Besides sexual abuse and reproductive exploitation, there is a number of other commonalities and intersections between feminism and veganism that need to be highlighted:
- Compassion for All
Feminism teaches us to recognize the intrinsic value of every individual, regardless of their gender. By extending this principle to animals, we acknowledge their capacity to feel pain, fear, and joy. Just as we challenge the objectification of women, we should challenge the objectification of animals as mere commodities. Going vegan reflects our belief in the inherent value of all living beings. - Body Autonomy
Feminism emphasizes body autonomy and control. Farmed animals are often subjected to extreme sexual and physical abuse, have body parts amputated without anesthesia, do not receive adequate treatment for wounds and diseases, and are often kept in such confined spaces that they can barely move. After a life of confinement, suffering and cruelty, they are stabbed, shot, beaten to death, gassed or shredded alive after a fraction of their natural life expectancy. Just as we stand against the exploitation of women’s bodies, we should stand against the exploitation of animals’ bodies. - Environmental Justice
Environmental issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including women. Animal agriculture is the number one driver of deforestation worldwide and a leading contributor land degradation, water pollution, and climate change — all of which impact vulnerable populations. By choosing a vegan lifestyle, we can advocate for a sustainable future that benefits both animals and marginalized human communities. - World Hunger
Women and girls are more likely than men to report food insecurity. They account for 70% of the world’s hungry. And animal agriculture is a major driver of world hunger — because animals are an incredibly inefficient food source. While 20,000 people die from hunger and malnutrition every day, our society wastes massive amounts of grain, corn, soy, and fresh water to grow livestock. You need about 100 calories of grain to produce 12 calories of chicken or 3 calories of beef. The world’s cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people (which is more than the current world population). - Working Conditions
Most workers in the livestock sector endure harsh and dangerous working conditions, causing high rates of injuries, substance abuse, anxiety issues, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The slaughterhouse employees currently being put at risk to satisfy society’s taste for meat are overwhelmingly people of color and members of other minorities. Although these are not all women, of course, as feminists we should sympathize with the oppressed in society. - Breaking Harmful Traditions
Feminism challenges traditional gender roles and societal expectations. Similarly, adopting a vegan lifestyle breaks free from the traditional norms of consuming animal products that have been perpetuated by societal conditioning. In a landscape where societal norms often serve as constraints, feminists and vegans alike dare to question the status quo. Just as feminists work to redefine roles and expectations, veganism encourages a re-evaluation of our relationship with animals and the environment.
Incorporating veganism into our feminist framework is a natural extension of our commitment to justice, compassion, and equality.
Just as we advocate for gender equality, we can champion the rights of animals and work towards dismantling the systems of oppression that harm both women and animals. By embracing veganism, we align our values with actions that create a more equitable and compassionate world for all beings.
Our bodies do not need animal products (we are actually healthier without them), so we do not have to choose between human liberation and animal liberation — we can, and should, advocate for both.
And for those thinking “all well and good, but you forgot to mention that veganism is a lifestyle reserved for the rich and privileged…” — nope, it isn’t.
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