Is meat eating a personal choice? Let’s debate!

The debate about whether or not eating meat and animal products at large, is a personal choice, is quite massive. It is often among the first justifications that people give to continue using animals. On this World Vegan Day – 2020, I put forth my viewpoint about the ‘personal choice defense.’

The vehicles we buy, the clothing we choose, the favorites we pick from music – all of these have one thing in common – personal choice. Such choices are called “personal” because we consider our own likes and dislikes, and make a selection based on personal preferences. What is also commonly categorized under personal choice is that of meat-eating and other dietary habits. One might call meat-eating a choice of a “personal” nature because it is related to one’s food preferences. But, is eating meat and other animal products really a personal choice – what about the animal’s choice to live and the right to a life free from harm?

Everyone involved needs to make the “choice”

Do non-human animals make the choice to get murdered for their flesh, skin, and secretions? Do non-human animals get to choose freedom over confinement? Do they have the freedom of choice in what they eat, where they live, and how they live?

The reality is that they are constantly trapped in places where they are merely used with no free will because everything that happens around them and with them is outside their control. Even the date of their death is decided by humans. In this article, Carnism is NOT a Personal Choice, the author writes:

“When a living thing must die or endure significant pain so you can have something, your choice is affecting that living thing.”

A cow or buffalo does not choose to give her milk to human beings because they have any personal stake in the dairy industry! Similarly, a rabbit or monkey does not choose to have their bodies injected with chemicals just so people can find the cosmetics safe. Clearly, these are impositions we make upon those vulnerable beings because we think we are superior to them.

We victimize someone – the non-human animals, because we derive some form of benefit from them.

SomeONE, not someTHING – Meat eating habits have victims

Animals who are exploited for food, cosmetics, clothing, entertainment, are at no point given the status of an individual. In deriving the milk, wool, or meat of an animal, we objectify them. We consider them nothing more than raw materials to produce commodities that can be traded in exchange for money. They are not seen as individuals who deserve to experience freedom, love, joy, and live their life on their own terms. In a way, this must remind us of the slaves who were traded in exchange for money for a very long time. However, it does not, because we consider human beings to be superior to non-human beings. This form of discrimination, called speciesism, has reduced sentient beings to mere silk-producing machines and joy rides, among others. Bruce Friedrich, the co-founder and executive director of the Good Food Institute (GFI) says:

“Eating meat is not your personal decision, any more than, you know, whether somebody beats their child is their personal decision.”

If we humans “choose” to look at using animals from the point of view of equity and justice (whether we are being fair to them or not), we will no longer find reasons to not be vegan. What we need to unlearn is that animals are not something, we need to relearn that they are someone. When we are eating meat or using anything that has resulted from animal oppression, it is really affecting someONE and NOT someTHING. This popular quote conveys the message loud and clear:

“If you think eating meat is a personal choice, you are forgetting someone.”

Application of “personal choice” to other non-human animals

We have witnessed cases of wild animals poached for their “exquisite” parts. For example, tigers are poached for their skins, and elephants for their tusks. Most of us disagree with such murders only because they are associated with animals who are in the wild, and by and large, it is not socially and legally acceptable to harm them for personal or economic benefits. The buyers of the skins and tusks could argue using “personal choice” as a justification. However, we would find such an argument completely unacceptable because it is not the norm. Eating meat, wearing silk, and drinking milk have been normalized to the extent that we associate it with our lifestyle choices. While that is the fact, it is also on us to make an informed decision and stop supporting the unethical animal industry that thrives by exploiting helpless beings.

Making an informed compassionate choice vs an uninformed “personal choice” for eating meat and using animals

When we watch videos of cruelty against animals in the slaughterhouses, dairy farms, and testing laboratories, our blood boils. Given that we all have the privilege of making a choice, we somehow still tend to make one that we are habituated to. Making an informed compassionate choice might be slightly inconvenient for us but will make a whole lot of difference to the victims of our “personal” choices – the animals. When we choose products of exploitation, cruelty, and suffering, we are essentially making the choice to do something we have found unpleasant just minutes ago in the videos. We have the option and the power to do the morally right thing while still making it practically work for us. Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary has chosen their motto perfectly in alignment with the principle of veganism – to exclude products of exploitation as far as is possible and practicable:

“If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others… why wouldn’t we?”

Summary: Is eating meat and using animals a personal choice?

In conclusion, while meat-eating is technically a “personal choice,” it must be based on ethical considerations. And if ethics are taken as the basis, it would be a natural “choice” to be vegan. If we have a choice to buy something that has been produced by child labor or forced labor versus something that hasn’t, we would strive to make the ethically right choice.

The intention of this article is to drive our focus towards making the most ethical choice possible. In the context of choosing products for which animals have been exploited, our urge is for everyone to decide in favor of non-human animals who have every right to be viewed as our fellow earthlings. Author Rai Aren rightly said:

“I made the choice to be vegan because I will not eat (or wear, or use) anything that could have an emotional response to its death or captivity. I can well imagine what that must feel like for our non-human friends – the fear, the terror, the pain – and I will not cause such suffering to a fellow living being.”

If we CAN make a choice, let us make the just one.

Cover acknowledgement:
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to artiste, Manasa Muthukumar for contributing her artwork for the cover of this article. Manasa is also a published author and has written the book, Larry the House Lizard.

About the author, Sowmya Lakshmi

“I have been vegan since 2013 and it originated from my love for animals as I could no longer make sense of the disconnect between my love for them on one hand and my actions that were contributing to their harm on the other hand. I eventually decided to take it upon myself to spread the message of veganism as widely as possible as I realized that veganism paves the way to animal liberation.”

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