Summary
This review focuses on modern attitudes towards meat, meat-eating and vegetarianism. It is contended that vegetarian attitudes are deep-rooted in society and that by examining those attitudes one can gain an insight into the reasons for the growing trend towards vegetarianism and for reduced meat eating amongst meat eaters.
In the 1960s and 70s vegetarianism was closely linked with spiritual, devotional and ecological attitudes. This changed during the 1980s and 90s and concerns about animal welfare predominated. These concerns exist amongst adults and adolescents. For many adolescents the adoption of vegetarianism is a way of managing the anxiety or guilt that occurs with the realisation how animals are used by society. In urban society, the notion that animals are exploited for food is becoming less acceptable. The negative images of exploiting animals and of killing them for meat might be less common if schoolchildren were introduced at an early age to the fact that animals are raised to produce food.
Besides animal welfare, vegetarianism is concerned with purity and spirituality, and a central theme is mental and physical harmony. This invokes a number of other beliefs and attitudes which in turn contribute to the decision not to eat meat. These attitudes include concern for ones own mental and physical health and concern for the environment. To understand the reasons behind the trend towards reduced meat eating one has to understand the accompanying attitudes.
Meat is simultaneously the most exalted and the most pernicious food that we have. Intensive meat production systems are castigated by polarised views about inhumanity to animals, commodity surpluses and waste, pollution of land, air and water and even global warming. Behind all these opinions is the impression that meat and meat production is acquiring an "unnatural" image. Unease about animal welfare is particularly strong amongst female semivegetarians and vegetarians. However, it is not restricted to this group; over one third of non-vegetarian young women also share this concern. Their attitudes to animal welfare are discussed in this review along with the health, body image and negative taste features that are linked to meat-eating. The information is presented in a way which allows a better appreciation of the outlooks and beliefs behind reduced meat eating.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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