How Redirecting My Discomfort Transformed My Life
My first encounter with both feminism and veganism was a revelatory experience that, at the same time, was difficult to process. Not only did it lead me to question my habits and beliefs, but it also made me realize how my daily actions impact other living beings, both human and non-human.
Discovering the connection between these two struggles sparked a profound curiosity in me, but also a deep sadness. It was through reading the following articles: Sexism and Speciesism, Intersectional Veganism, and The Complex Political Web that I came to understand how different systems of oppression are interrelated.
Intersectionality and Its Implications
These writings discussed "the friendly oppressions," referring to this term as an intersectional comparison—an analysis that examines how different social categories, such as gender, race, class, sexual orientation, disability, and others, intersect and affect people's experiences. Rather than studying these categories in isolation, intersectionality highlights that these identities combine to create unique forms of discrimination or privilege.
For example, an Indigenous woman does not only face challenges for being a woman or being Indigenous, but both identities intersect, generating specific experiences that cannot be explained solely from a gender or ethnicity perspective. This approach is key in social studies, public policy, and even business management, as it helps identify structural inequalities and design more inclusive and effective strategies.
Between Feminism and Veganism
Suddenly, many of my own experiences began to make sense: the way women are represented in media, advertising, gender roles, the sexualization of animals, and the animalization of women. The way women and females are viewed as mere objects of consumption, reproduction machines, and/or sources of entertainment are some of the examples where these struggles converge.
As I delved deeper into anti-speciesist veganism, I encountered various reactions within my community. Surprisingly, most of them were positive.
Many people have told me: "I would be vegan, but I can’t," and when I ask why, their response often reflects a cognitive dissonance between their empathy toward animals and their consumption habits. This is the mental discomfort we experience when we hold two contradictory beliefs or when our behavior does not align with our values or ideas.
In this context, it may look like this:
Belief 1: "Animals deserve respect and should not suffer."
Belief 2: "I like to eat meat and do so regularly."
In Mexican culture, it is normal to consume animals such as cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, and other animals raised on farms; however, what if we ate dogs and cats? In her book Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, Melanie Joy mentions an interesting point: "Most people have a very different perception of dog meat and beef. Thus, dog meat evokes very different mental, emotional, and behavioral responses."
However, this is also a matter of accessibility—not only in having plant-based products available in supermarkets at competitive prices, but also in having access to adequate nutritional information and professionals who can provide a complete overview. Knowing how to sustain healthy nutrition and where to find inspiration for cooking is very helpful in daily life. A supportive community is always indispensable! That’s why I also invite you to visit the Plant Futures community library, where you’ll find resources related to sustainability, food justice, climate change, and the plant-based movement.
From my perspective, the sectors most open to reducing harm toward animals—both human and non-human—have been curious individuals, particularly young women. I believe gender plays a significant role in this area, as women experience similar oppressions such as objectification, sexualization, being seen only as flesh, loss of identity, and loss of voice, among others.
"But why is it so obvious to some people that there is a system of domination in one cause, and not in others?" The theory of the absent referent answers this question. The absent referent, as Adams (2016) explains, dislocates the meat we eat from the animal. The importance of this theory lies in realizing how, in our society, animals disappear as individuals—beings with their own lives—and become objects for us to use at will. Through their death, animals become these kinds of referents, as both their names and bodies are erased as animals and exist only as meat. Their stolen lives make it possible for there to be meat; if they were alive, they could not be meat, as meat implies the absence of life. The absent referent helps us forget the animal. Something similar happens to women, as we are subjected to this process of the absent referent in patriarchal society, in such a way that we are repeatedly seen as a resource available for the enjoyment of heterosexual men. The bodies of animals are cut into pieces to be consumed separately, and women’s bodies are cut into pieces for consumption in pornography, advertising, etc., so that we are not seen as entities with our own personalities and ideas.
I have also observed a shift in the business world, where companies are beginning to consider alternatives due to the changing priorities of consumers. My experience with organizations like Animal Connection, New Roots Institute, Effective Altruism, and now Plant Futures has reinforced my understanding of intersectionality in activism. One of the aspects I most wish to develop in my career is accessibility—specifically regarding plant-based resources and options in more places in my city. I have encountered various obstacles, from the lack of vegan options at my school cafeteria to the negative reactions from people who do not understand my choice. I am aware that these reactions and obstacles stem from structural barriers such as economic, social, cultural, educational, political, and food system issues.
Structural Barriers to Adopting a Vegan Diet
The adoption of veganism in Mexico faces various structural barriers that hinder its expansion:
Economic: The perceived cost of vegan products is high, even though basic vegan ingredients such as beans, lentils, and corn are affordable and easily accessible. However, processed products like plant milk tend to be more expensive than their counterparts. This creates the impression that a vegan diet is elitist or inaccessible. While it is not impossible, it does represent a considerable obstacle for those in lower socio-economic areas, where finding diverse options is challenging.
Social: In our Mexican context, mealtime is strongly linked to socializing and family bonding. Not participating in meals that contain meat is seen as a rejection. There is a belief that a meatless diet is unhealthy.
Cultural: Mexican cuisine, recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010, is deeply centered around animal consumption. Changing these consumption habits generates resistance. Not eating certain foods tied to traditions, socializing, customs, and emotions can cause a clash with cultural identity. There is also the perception that consuming meat is masculine: "Meat is still associated with values typically linked to masculinity—bravery, strength, vigor, and even cruelty or lack of empathy (boys don’t cry, especially not over a pig)."
Educational: A well-planned vegan diet can provide all the nutrients a person needs. However, not everyone has access to adequate information to obtain essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, or protein.
Political and Food System: The meat and dairy industries have a strong economic and political influence in Mexico, which affects public policies that promote their consumption through subsidies or advertising campaigns. Unlike other countries, there are still few standards in Mexico that guarantee the accessibility and safety of vegan products across all socio-economic levels.
Proposals to Foster Change
Over time, my perspective on feminism and veganism has evolved. Initially, these concepts seemed distant and unrelated to me. However, as I became more informed, reflected, and engaged with social circles that share similar values, I understood that they are interconnected and can be applied in our daily lives. I learned to question where to direct my discomfort and unease, instead of reacting impulsively.
To foster veganism and feminism in resistant communities, I have found that the most effective strategy is to invite people to question themselves. Questioning yourself about your consumption habits and why we buy what we buy, which is ingrained in us from childhood, from our primary environment. This is where, for me, you begin to question why we have taken certain things for granted and see them as normal, such as animal exploitation. Not everyone reacts the same way; some prefer to read studies, others to watch documentaries, or have one-on-one conversations. A significant moment in my activism was when I gave a talk titled "A Piece of Meat," and an engineer, who initially questioned feminism, ended up reflecting on the importance of women in his life, how it affected them to feel like objects in their daily lives, how sexualization impacted them, and how he had normalized it. He started questioning the experiences of the women he cared about most. It made me think of some reflections I had read about these movements, such as, "What would have to happen to a woman in your life for you to start caring?" "Why is one animal’s life more important than another’s from your perspective?" "What’s the difference between a cow and a dog/cat?"
Final Reflection
Reconciling feminism, veganism, and other forms of activism in my daily life involves questioning speciesist situations at the right moments. My advice for those beginning this path is to take care of themselves, as not everyone will be willing to listen with genuine curiosity. Patience is key, as well as choosing the right moments to share information and create a positive impact. From my perspective, tenderness and having a community can also be radical.
Finally, I consider it crucial to develop activation proposals within academic spaces.
Creating a student chapter could be a great opportunity to involve more people and create significant change in the student community. Finding people who share these ideas and ways of seeing the world has been a transformative change in my life, and I am deeply grateful for it. I have learned so much about being more empathetic, curious, researching more, listening, and connecting. I invite anyone reading this to join a supportive community like Plant Futures! There’s space for you, whether you’re a university student, part of an organization, a university group, academic, administrative staff, or anyone curious about sustainability and making a positive impact in your community, for the animals, and for our planet.
