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VEGAN RELATIONSHIP SURVEY INTRODUCTION
I asked myself: 'Why am I taking the time to do this lengthy and time-consuming report? Why not just write an article from my own viewpoint, as usual?' I guess it's because I believe that there is something we can learn from each other. Anyone who has the good sense to become vegan would probably have another viewpoint worth considering, so I am sharing what vegans (and a few non-vegans) from around the globe have to say. The survey questions deal with vegans in relation to: dating/ romantic/ sexual relationships, family/ parental/ sibling/ spousal partner relationships, as well as relationships to animals, and to non-vegans and society...all sorts of relationships. Around 750 people, able to respond in English, united in cyberspace to answer this VEGAN RELATIONSHIP SURVEY, in later 2008, conducted by M. Butterflies Katz (www.veganpoet.com). Hopefully the results will shed some insight into the worlds of vegans from a 'vegan Mecca' like the Bay Area of California or the Vegan Freak capital; Eugene, Oregon or the acclaimed 'Vegan Capital of the World; Portland, Oregon to some of the most unlikely places like Bahrain, Poland, Serbia/Belgrade, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Scotland, Tasmania, etc., with some surprising discoveries like Auckland, New Zealand having a decent community of vegans for such a large meat and dairy-producing country. The most survey responses came in from the United Kingdom, with the state of California a close second. Other places where good sized populations of vegans were reported: New York City, Washington D.C., Patagonia, AZ., Vancouver-British Columbia, Gainesville- Florida, Houston - Texas, London- England, Bristol, Manchester, and other localities in the United Kingdom, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Richmond- VA., Los Angeles, as well as Ithaca, Syracuse, Brooklyn, and Manhattan in New York. One thing was made clear! There is NO stereotypical vegan. There are punk-rock vegans, hardcore vegans, militant vegans, straight-edge vegans, raw food vegans, 'healthy-happy-tree-huggin'-pot-smoking vegans', 'heterosexual monogamous married vegan couples' and bi-sexual and gay vegans. There are vegans of various faiths, including Christian sects I never heard of. There are vegans who are Jain, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, as well as Pagan and Atheist, and those who think veganism is their religion. There are South African vegans, Indian Vegans, etc. There are vegans all over the globe and in all age groups, apparently though it is easier for young people, especially university students, to see that veganism makes sense and should be adopted. There are vegans who don't tell others that they are vegan unless questioned first and vegans who give their life to this advocacy. There are differing extents to people's veganism; they draw the line at different demarcations. There are plenty of people calling themselves vegan (because it is 'hip' now) who aren't actually vegan. There are vegans who adhere to the U.K. Vegan Society's definition and some that take it even further. And there are those who refer to themselves as dietary vegans. Vegans come in all colors, and apparently, all sizes! (Though generally, there is much less obesity found amongst vegans). Some are junk food vegans, some are vegans who take legal and illegal drugs or drink, while others are athletes and super fit. However, most vegans boast of better health and more energy than they ever felt before as a non-vegan. Some became vegan to reverse serious health issues and then saw the plight of the animals. There are vegans who have never met another vegan in person and those who live surrounded by vegans or in vegan-friendly areas of the world. There are life-long vegans (some from birth) and newly converted vegans, and I noted a difference in their responses that indicated that we 'veganize' with time and our views change. There are self-proclaimed non-judgmental vegans to vegans that won't date or even befriend a non-vegan. There are 'abolitionist' vegans and activists and heroes of the vegan movement. There are government-employed scientist vegans, registered dieticians and medical doctor vegans, marathon running, weight-lifting, mountain-climbing or surfing vegans, vegan shop owners, freegan vegans, animal rights vegans, environmental vegans, vegans whose conversational skills leave them nothing to talk about except vegan food, recluse vegans, fanatical and radical vegans, vegan 'police' type vegans, angry or rude vegans to polite or non-confrontational vegans, to pacifist vegans. There are vegans who were brought up on farms and heard cows bellowing for her stolen new born calf, and there are city vegans who don't have much connection to farm animals or animals at all. There are vegans with healthy vegan companion animals and vegans who think that it is wrong to feed animal companions vegan food. There are vegans under 18 years of age who live within a family of carnivores and those surrounded by animal agriculture and hunting. There are long-time vegans in their 60's, 70's and 80's; still mentally and physically active. There are a small percentage of vegans that sadly have not escaped the cancer epidemic and there are vegans eating only whole foods, mostly raw, and growing their food veganically. There are vegans who are baffled at society's unwillingness to see the truth of veganism, vegan misanthropes, and vegans who believe we should just love all people and look at everyone we meet as a potential vegan. And, there are vegans who believe we should interact with society, intermingling with non-vegans, in order to be an example, a voice; an influence. There are endless vegan web site owners and bloggers, many of whom are represented in this report. There are probably more female than male vegans, but male vegans often tend to be activists. Vegans have come to their veganism from differing paths and have been inspired by an assortment of activists, friends, organizations, leaders in the movement and celebrities. As a result of this survey, interesting lists have come about ; such as who inspired vegans worldwide or how vegans meet other vegans. These lists are posted with the complete survey results at There are your 'average heterosexual, healthier than their meat-eating peers type of vegans' to a 'younger, new generation, open-minded, less gender bias, non-sexist, non-racist, non-speciesist type of vegan', who use those terms. Many different types of vegans, I tell you!! But, the one thing that unites us all, for whatever reason (mostly the animals) is that we have made the ethical choice to be a vegan. That is what bonds us, and vegans do feel bonded to other vegans. Some vegans believe that with that choice comes the obligation to be a good example of the vegan lifestyle. I hope you enjoy connecting with fellow vegans worldwide through this survey! Butterflies Katz See the entire Vegan Relationship Survey Results here: |