I like the name, "Vegan", I really do, and often in the past I have usually identified myself in the animal movement as a vegan, but the term is vague when it comes down to defining what this social justice movement is all about. Some people still look at me with a blank look on their face when I say I'm vegan. Therefore, from now on, I will rarely call myself vegan but instead, identify myself in a more straightforward way by saying I'm an...
Animal Rights Activist
It's a no-nonsense, well defined label. Plus, that name alone will cause people to think about how they treat animals. For instance, let's say I'm having brunch with someone for the first time. They order a meat sandwich and I order the only vegan sandwich on the menu. The person I'm having brunch with says to me, "Why didn't you order a meat sandwich? It's a bit too heavy to have so early in the morning?" I answer by saying, "No. I don't eat meat because I'm an animal rights activist."
So now they could think, 'Hmmm. I love animals too. Defending animals sounds like the right thing to do. But by eating meat that means I'm not being an activist for animals?'
See what I mean? If I had said, 'No. I do't eat meat because I'm a vegan,' they probably would not equate veganism with animal rights activism which both do mean the same thing, regardless of what some people believe. Veganism and animal rights activism may mean the same but the word vegan has become so bastardized and watered down to the point of tasting like water that most people when they hear the term vegan they think it as some sort of insignificant cult or club.
About a month ago, at work someone offered me some milk chocolate. I said to him, "No thanks. I'm a vegan." He said to me, "Oh, OK. Well, if you change your mind, the chocolate will be in the front in the lunchroom area."
Here I am, a staunch animal rights activist of 36 years and he has it in his mind that I will all of a sudden "change my mind" and stop being a vegan after 36 years! I told that to a meat-eating ex-boyfriend and even he was surprised at that co-worker's ignorance. People simply don't take the word vegan seriously.
Had I said to him, "No thanks. I'm an animal rights activist", do you think he would have thought I would immediately change my mind? I don't think so.
When choosing a term to represent yourself, choose wisely, as words speak volumes.
