From dailycollegian.com
By Lucy Peterson
Educating others about veganism requires patience and an open mind
I was standing in my kitchen making a chickpea coconut stew that my mother recommended, when it occurred to me that I needed to start a new column.
I missed the whimsy of writing about food, dieting and the joys of trying new things each week. Just because the Daily Diet had to come to a close doesn’t mean my love for cooking, eating and writing needs to.
If anything, being a vegan has expanded my horizons. Now that I am tethered to a specific diet, I can explore different recipes and social constructs within veganism, while sharing with the University of Massachusetts community what being a vegan is like on campus.
One thing I have noticed since I made the switch to veganism is how other vegans treat me. I was talking to someone on the street the other day who was campaigning for animal rights and veganism. I explained my year-long process of going vegan and shared that I also don’t restrict myself; I will still eat a piece of candy, or popcorn with movie theatre artificial butter, because I believe that being an imperfect vegan is better than nothing at all.
I was immediately met with defensive undertones. Arguments got hurled at me about how they would rather see one perfect vegan than ten imperfect vegans and how that defeats the purpose of being vegan.
This person also argued that veganism is more than just a diet; it is a movement and a form of protest. To them, being vegan means that you see animals as sentient beings, not as a product. If you see any animals this way, then you are not a real vegan.
I was shocked. My sister and some of her friends are vegan; every time I have talked to them about my switch to veganism, they have been nothing but kind and supportive, and that their transition was similar.
While I do agree that being vegan is more than just a diet but a mindset and a way of living, one that does not involve using animals as resources and products in any form, I think these things take time.
Nothing will stick if you try to go all in at once. If I woke up tomorrow and decided I was going to run five miles every day, I guarantee that I wouldn’t even last a week. Veganism is the same.
I believe that pigs are sentient beings that are not meant for human consumption, but I also accepted a Haribo gummy bear the other day because I really wanted it. I haven’t eaten pork in years, and I know that I’ve made a difference by doing that, so I’m fine with having the occasional gelatin product. A few years from now, my perspective on this may be very different and that’s okay.
I walked away from our conversation feeling utterly perplexed. There I was on the street, campaigning for animal rights and trying to convert people to veganism. Instead, I got interrogated and judged because I offered up the idea that being an imperfect vegan is part of the process of going vegan.
I understand the importance of spreading awareness about the meat and dairy industry, but I don’t believe that shame is the most effective method. Vegans are already vastly misunderstood by the public and are commonly stereotyped for being prudish and judgmental of anybody who consumes animal products. Why further this stereotype by embodying it?
Arguably, a huge part of judgement towards vegans is a lack of education about the meat and dairy industry, but nobody wants to support a cause if they feel like they are going to be ridiculed and shamed for their ignorance.
If we, as vegans, want to educate people about veganism and help make changes in their lifestyle, we must meet them where they are with an open mind and be willing to listen to them. We can’t just share facts and sources to support our argument. We have to offer easy changes, such as delicious recipes that don’t have animal products.
We must humanize the movement by sharing our own struggles with adopting veganism. Change isn’t easy by any means, but it can be especially uninviting if you feel that you can’t make any mistakes along the way.
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