Veganism seems to be spreading like wildfire across America as more people join the dietary movement each day. Some experts have linked the popularity of veganism to the rise of social media, which has exposed more of the public to the ethical, social, and biological benefits of going vegan.
In the past, social media vegan memes, support groups, and messages were a huge source of attraction to the lifestyle. (1) As of January 2020, a new social media trend has gone viral among vegans and non-vegans alike – posing for ‘hunting photos’. But unlike traditional hunting photos, featuring furry animal kills, vegans have put their own stamp on this craze. (2)
How Veganism First Began
The UK Vegan Society, founded on November 1, 1944, is considered the first group of modern-day vegans. However, vegetarian and vegan diets can be traced back as far as 500 BCE. The original work of the UK Vegan Society has prompted veganism to flourish into 2020 and is the reason why November is World Vegan Month. Though people opt into plant-based diets for a variety of reasons, the most common reasons for going vegan are animal welfare, personal health, and concerns for the environment. Vegans can be as lax or as strict as they like, some opting to only eat raw foods and others being okay with animal-based gelatin in candies and gum. (2, 3)
Veganism – No Joke
Vegan and vegetarians are often the butts of cruel and mean jokes. For example, a high-profile UK magazine editor was forced to step down from his position in 2018 after an email he had sent poking fun at vegans went public. In his email, he said, “How about a series on killing vegans, one by one. Ways to trap them? How to interrogate them properly? Expose their hypocrisy? Force-feed them meat? Make them eat steak and drink red wine?” (1)
Veganism is on the rise, however, and is truly nothing to laugh at. Celebrity vegan chef Rich Landau told Forbes, “If I had a dime for every time someone made fun of what we do, then came into the restaurant and shook my hand at the end of the meal.” Between 2014 and 2017, the number of Americans identifying as vegan increased from 1% to 6% (a 600% increase – revealing an increasing demand for plant-based living). (2)
Become A Vegan! They Are Funny!
To push away the negativity associated with veganism, many people have taken on ambassador roles for the cause. Celebrities like Natalie Portman, Stevie Wonder, and Cory Booker are all proud supporters of veganism. Everyday people who are vegan have also represented the lifestyle extremely well online, sharing recipes and tips to living healthy living. (2)
The latest representation for veganism comes from Facebook, showing vegans of all shapes, sizes, and ages posing with their vegetables. What makes these photos unique and hilarious is how the subjects pose – with a gun, wearing camo! Just as you would expect to see a hunter stop and pose with a prized kill, these vegans have embraced their take on ‘hunting for food’. Showing off beets, carrots, and more, these vegans are proud of their hunting haul. Most Facebook viewers love the idea so far – better cruelty-free vegetables than dead animals! (1)
