What makes someone a vegan? How do we see them in society?

I’m from the U.S., but I know that the answers to this can be very different based on where you live. I’d love to hear about it from everyone, no matter where you’re from, so please mention your country if you can. So, here’s my question:

In my country, vegans are about 1% of the population, and I started thinking… how does that 1% break down? Is it mostly women, or is it more balanced between men and women? Do vegans come from all income levels, or is it mostly higher-income people? Are they mostly in big cities or rural areas? And how about their age and political views? Are most vegans young or old? Are they more liberal or conservative?

I’m not sure if there’s real data on this, or if it’s just what people have observed. I’m just really curious, and sorry if this question has been asked already!

If you want to check out the gender part, try reading The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J Adams. It talks about how patriarchy, capitalism, and eating meat are connected.

Also, this Gallup report shows that more political liberals and people with lower incomes tend to be vegetarians. 9% of liberals are vegetarians, which is more than other political groups. Lower-income people are also more likely to be vegetarian than those with higher incomes. Plus, women are more likely than men to choose a vegetarian diet.

Here’s the full report: In U.S., 4% Identify as Vegetarian, 1% as Vegan

@Clove
There’s a big difference between being a vegetarian (a diet) and being a vegan (a lifestyle choice).

Mai said:
@Clove
There’s a big difference between being a vegetarian (a diet) and being a vegan (a lifestyle choice).

And there’s also a big difference between eating plant-based for health reasons and being an ethical vegan…

Mai said:
@Clove
There’s a big difference between being a vegetarian (a diet) and being a vegan (a lifestyle choice).

I think most surveys focus on diet, not the deeper philosophy of veganism. And with things like religion or personal beliefs, there’s a lot of variation, even under the same label.

@Clove
Wow. This is so helpful! Thanks a lot!

About 80% of vegans are women based on statistics, but interestingly, all the vegans I know in real life are men. Politically, it’s rare to find vegan conservatives, since veganism is more aligned with left-wing values. People with lower incomes are more likely to be vegan. Also, younger people are more likely to follow a vegan lifestyle, and urban areas have a higher number of vegans.

@Jalen
I guess I’m an exception! I’m a 38-year-old man with a seven-figure salary, I lean conservative on some issues, but I’m liberal on others like gay marriage and pro-choice. I’m also vegan. It’s a bit different from the stats.

More than three-quarters of vegans are women or identify as female. There’s this idea that veganism is a privilege, but it’s actually common in lower-income groups. Rice and beans are pretty cheap and can feed a family.

In the U.S., vegans tend to come from lower-income and non-white communities. Most vegans are under 30, but the spread isn’t too extreme. As you’d expect, conservatives are the least likely to be vegan. Women are the largest group, making up around 70-80% based on some surveys. I haven’t found much info on the urban-rural split.

@Val
Yeah, it’s definitely more urban-based.

In the U.S., Black Americans are the racial group with the highest percentage of vegans and vegetarians. You can read more here: Why black Americans are more likely to be vegan

Marley said:
In the U.S., Black Americans are the racial group with the highest percentage of vegans and vegetarians. You can read more here: Why black Americans are more likely to be vegan

It’s so surprising that some white leftists try to label veganism as a ‘racist white ideology’ when so many Black and other minority vegans are passionate about it. They’re writing cookbooks, creating art, and doing so much to promote the cause. I think it’s important to recognize that animal agriculture harms marginalized communities more than anything else. So, how can supporting these industries be considered anti-racist?

@Chandler
What’s POC?

Ellington said:
@Chandler
What’s POC?

It stands for People of Color, meaning anyone who isn’t white.

Kai said:

Ellington said:
@Chandler
What’s POC?

It stands for People of Color, meaning anyone who isn’t white.

Thanks!

@Chandler
It said proportionally, not overall. Since there are fewer Black Americans than white Americans, it takes a smaller number of Black Americans to make up a higher proportion of vegans.

Milan said:
@Chandler
It said proportionally, not overall. Since there are fewer Black Americans than white Americans, it takes a smaller number of Black Americans to make up a higher proportion of vegans.

Exactly, and there’s definitely more work to make vegan spaces feel more welcoming to people of all races. But when white people dismiss veganism as just a ‘white thing,’ they erase all the work of non-white vegans. It’s frustrating that leftists don’t see that.

In the U.S., vegans are more common in urban areas, but there’s still some mix with rural areas. As for age, vegans tend to be younger, especially in their college years, although some abandon it as they get older. Politically, vegans tend to be liberal or left-wing.

@Dezi
The urban vegan thing is interesting to me. I think it’s just because there are more people in cities, so naturally, more vegans. I live in a rural area and know several vegans here. A lot of them even rescue farm animals. They’re basically ‘vegan rednecks’ with trucks and tractors, but they’re passionate about rescuing animals.