Only a minority of the population might be vegan, but most people still know what the lifestyle entails. It's not just about not eating meat and other animal products. Veganism is about caring for the planet and having compassion for all living beings. In the words of The Beatles' Paul McCartney, "We've all got a shot at a life. And so many animals don't! I like the idea of giving them their little shot!"
Granted, McCartney is not vegan — just vegetarian. Yet his stance on animal cruelty that goes on in the meat and dairy industries applies to vegans as well. "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian," he has also said. Even as a vegetarian, if I were ever to find myself in front of a plate with a steak on it, I couldn't help but feel like Lisa in The Simpsons and see a little lamb baaing instead.
Vegans get a bad rap, especially in online spaces. Most stereotypes paint them as a sanctimonious and irritating bunch that like to lecture people endlessly about what monsters they are for enjoying meat and other animal products. A 2024 study found that people ascribe both positive and negative stereotypes to vegans.
Participants in that survey said they see vegans as more compassionate, praised their healthier lifestyles, and admired them for their self-discipline. On the other hand, many meat eaters perceived vegans as condescending, albeit unconventional and progressive thinkers. Some also believed they're not as healthy as carnivores, citing deficiencies in iron, B12, and other vitamins and minerals.
Vegans may feel like they face a lot of scrutiny from carnivores, but research can't back that claim. According to a recent Finnish study, meat-eaters evaluate all groups (omnivores, vegans, vegetarians, meat-reducers, etc.) equally. Essentially, they're the least likely group to discriminate.
At the same time, women tend to be more tolerant of vegans, vegetarians, and meat reducers. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to support meat-eating and look down on plant-based diets and lifestyles.
People may not be going vegan, but they're consuming less meat. That's especially true for young people, who have cut down on meat and are choosing plant-based alternatives. Europeans are leading the charge here, as a little more than half of adults there have reduced their intake of conventional meat and make a concentrated effort to consume plant-based foods at least once a week.
Americans are making an effort, too. According to a 2020 Gallup poll, nearly one in four Americans has cut back on eating meat. Women, nonwhites, and Democrats are the most likely to do so. Why do people choose to cut back on meat? Most cite health reasons as the main driver behind such decisions, while others also cite animal welfare and concern for the environment.
Every single person on the planet going vegan is highly improbable, but simply reducing our meat intake can help the planet a lot. Those who eat less meat reduce their environmental impact by 30% across the main environmental criteria: greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, water pollution, and biodiversity.
