Dogs are considered cherished family members, yet pig flesh is coveted as mouthwatering breakfast fare. While adorable cat videos go viral on the internet, T-shirts with diagrams of cows’ bodies with terms like ‘loin’ and ‘brisket’ are sold at clothing stores nationwide.
One expert is analyzing this contradiction. Why do we love some animals and eat others?
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Carnism, a term coined by Dr. Melanie Joy, is a concept that has intrigued her and others for years; it has been programmed into our minds to love and respect certain species, but kill others. Why exactly is that? What is the rationale behind this ideology?
In her book Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, Dr. Joy extrapolates upon the inconsistency that is carnism and why there are certain animals we love, yet we eat others. She also explores what exactly keeps us from questioning the billions of animals killed each year for our appetite and fashion choices.
“Every day we engage in a behavior that requires us to distort our thoughts, numb our feelings, and act against our core values,” Joy explains in a Tedx Talk from 2015. “Ideologies such as carnism run counter to human values — values such as compassion, justice, and authenticity.”
According to Joy, much of the issue stems from invisibility. Over one billion animals are killed each week for food — most of them in factory farms — but consumers never see them. Part of the reason why we eat farm animals while showing love for other animals is that these farms are essentially invisible to us, as most do not allow public access. Out of sight, out of mind.
But inside those walls, animals live in filth, disease, and perpetual suffering. They are painfully maimed by debeaking and castration with no anesthetics; they are bred to grow so large they become crippled under their own weight. At the end of their short lives, they are killed assembly-line style, terrified until their last gasp.
Confronting Truth: Reckoning with the Facts
Unaware (or in denial of) the torture, however, even professed animal lovers will gleefully boast of their love for bacon.
When looking at why we love companion animals and eat other animals, Joy explains the doctrine of carnism is a global one, making it appear more like a given instead of a choice.
“Choices always stem from beliefs,” she says in the Tedx Talk.
And our cultures shape what we believe. Although carnism is a worldwide phenomenon, different cultures have unique views on which animals are to be loved and which are to be eaten.
For example, the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China causes an uprising amongst Westerners because, to us, dogs are man’s best friend. Yet we eat cows, a species sacred in countries such as Nepal and India.
When people are confronted with the truth, they are forced to confront their feelings about why we love some animals and eat others. And we are often uncomfortable when it comes to acknowledging our feelings about our food. It is painfully difficult to accept that what we are eating was once a sentient, intelligent being.
Image via Pexels
“They need to use defense mechanisms that distort our thoughts and numb our feelings so that we act against our values without fully realizing what we are doing,” said Joy. “Our pain is the mirror in which we can see the reflection of our humanity.”
More information is coming to light about the meat, dairy, and egg industries, forcing us to think more about why we eat farm animals, even though we love other animals. With investigative videos, research studies, and books unveiling the truth about animal agriculture’s effect on our health, the environment, and the animals themselves, more people are switching to the once seemingly mythical plant-based diet. Veganism and vegetarianism have increased significantly around the world in the past few decades, and with the plethora of cruelty-free alternatives lining shelves at grocery stores and menus in restaurants, the movement is only growing.
We are waking up to the facts instead of simply buying what our cultures have told us. The innate sense of compassion and justice we feel towards other living creatures is blossoming, and the “given” of carnism is being realized as the choice that it really is.
GO VEGAN! — There are a multitude of excellent, rational reasons why NOT to eat ANIMAL products — keep reading, keep learning — At your food markets, look to GARDEIN, look to BEYOND MEAT.
Interesting article; even with the obvious slant. I don’t plan to purchase the book, but it would be interesting to learn if any or all the following are supported or denied within its scope.
– Meat from humane slaughter tastes better. Perhaps more interestingly, all anthropological studies of cannibalistic tribes who ask the question as part of the scope of the study also identify that human meat is apparently the best tasting meat of all.
– The higher cost of meat from humane slaughter also puts it out of reach for many people.
– Some people due to their own, unique biology do very well and have improved lifestyles as vegetarians or vegans … and relative to when they ate meat. I know some of them. This does not apply equally to all people. Those who lie about this to further their agenda should stop lying and are only slowing the adoption of their agenda.
– Animal meat is the only single food source in the human diet that contains all 15 amino acids required to build muscle.
– The word ‘torture’ is in all probability a fair verb to use when it comes to corporate meat farms and most slaughter houses. Not all.
– All animals know when they are going to die. This can simply be from the smell of death from those before them.
– Not all animals are equally sentient; between or within species. Want proof? Watch almost any discourse on social media; including this one.
– Not all animals remember what some human did to them. Dogs, cats and Elephants among others do. Anyone who does not accept or realize this either has their head up a very dark orifice, is literally a troglodyte, or see my ‘sentient’ comment.
– Given the appropriate circumstance, many different animal species can be considered companion animals. Not just cats and dogs.
– Those whose viewpoints are borderline or overtly belligerent do nothing to improve reality. You may think you can force others to adopt your viewpoint but you can’t. Worse, when you try, you’re more likely entrenching them into the opinion they already have. So in that context, their behavior becomes your fault.
– As a very wise uncle told me in my formative years, “We gave thanks before a meal because a living creature died that we could live, and that deserves respect.”
Such rationalization your uncle’s prayer. And we do not need animal flesh or secretions to be healthy or build muscle. I was a ballerina my entire life and had way more endurance and way less illness than my colleagues. I am elderly and still teach up to four grueling classes a day. I never had a bite of flesh or a pharmaceutical in my life and no eggs or dairy for the past 35 years. There are many renowned vegan athletes and body builders as well. How silly to exclaim that not all sentient beings are sentient. Those who keep finding excuses for torturing and murdering the innocent for a few seconds of taste (which is mostly the sauces and condiments anyway) are lying to themselves, but on some level, know the truth. And if some are so stubborn that they will dig in their heels just because there are those asking them to examine a compassionate diet, then we are in deep trouble — spiritually, environmentally and health wise.
thank you sandra bell!!! Leyton, there is no such thing as humane slaughter, slaughter is slaughter and no animal deserves to die because you want to eat animals. Want not need, no human needs animal flesh or secretions to survive.
The term humane slaughter is an oxymoron.
I don’t think I could ever stop eating meat, even though I do love all animals. What I wish would change is the way they are treated. I see no reason why they all can’t run free in a meadow until their time comes, and then it should be painless and fast so they feel no pain, and no torture…. slaughterhouses sometimes, or maybe all the time, hire sadistic workers who like to see creatures suffer. They need to put a stop to that, install cameras all over if need be, but stop the abusive behavior! Same goes for chickens; let them run free all day, they will all come back to roost at night, they’re not going to run off, well, maybe if they are abused, but there should be no abuse! No animal should be tortured or abused in any way. I feel bad for them that they have to live such a short life, especially veal, veal should be outlawed, let the calves get a chance to grow UP; at least! Yes, the whole way that food animals are treated needs to be changed; no excuse for abuse.
You don’t love animals if you eat animals. Killing any animal (including fish & what you call ‘seafood’) is abuse, they don’t want to die anymore than you do, they feel love & pain just like you do, they want to be with their family just like you do! There is no painless and fast death, when you kill something it feels pain…
Stop eating pork and beef. These animals are what is contributing to the global warming problem.
I think everyone should watch Paul McCartney’s film about slaughterhouses, or better still, visit one. because yes, the meat sellers want to hide from the public the way the meat is “produced”. I know it would change the perception of a large percentage of meat eaters, because in my small way with sharing information two of my friends have now forsworn meat.
I always wondered how people can say they love animals, yet have no regrets about eating cow, chicken, pig, etc. As the author pointed out, factory farms do not allow the public to see how they keep their animals. If the public could actually visit a slaughterhouse and see the abuse and suffering from beginning to end of the doomed animals, maybe there would be a lot more people turning vegetarian or vegan.
You are so right! People love ‘pets’ not animals. People don’t want to see what is going on, that is why most of them ignore it so they can continue doing what they want without caring.
HUMANS SUCK BIG. – the Flora & Fauna.
I became a vegan 12 years ago due to my love for all animals.
I would munch on a humans flesh before I would ever eat an animal.I have never met an animal that I have disliked,however I am unable to say the same about all humans.
Many people have Bovine as pets, others have what MOST Of us would consider vermin, “Mice and Rats”. But I very well could think of the bovine as sentient with its ability to care and learn, I couldn’t think the same way about a group of mice even though they portray the same patterns of thought. We even use them for testing and place them in mazes for their inane capacity for thought processing, but we still look at it as a pest… often killing them just because they make holes in an area of the property. True they carry viruses, but so does bovine, and other creatures we’ve ordained to be our food sources.
I think You are correct. Our minds have been twisted about what animals to love and which to abuse. Kind of takes us back a few years when some races were slaves and some were free even thow they were all people just as animals are all animals.
I’m a meat eater and always will be. But you are right it is a choice. I pray that these animals breed for food consumption are being treated humanely or will be if they are not already.
They are not treated humanely and they never will be. You and millions of other people are contributing to their suffering because you ‘want’ to eat meat.
How about we treat you humanely and then slaughter you?? So sick and tired of people and their stupid meat craze. How any so called human can sit there and eat meat knowing how they are treated is pathetic.
Only hope is that Scientists will find a way to create ‘meat’ substitutes to satisfy the several billion humans amoungst us.
I’m vegan but that is a long stretch…
The planet cannot continue indefinitely to support the number of animals farmed for food. Ethics aside, vegans and vegetarians put less pressure on the environment. Sooner or later the human race will be forced to change – willingly or otherwise. BTW I’ve been a vegetarian since childhood. Vegan as an adult. Strong, fit, and healthy too. Just saying…
There are now fabulous same tasting alternatives to use and worth looking into and will not cause you harm as well as keeping animals off your menu eg Bill Gates invested and has developed a meat alternative that tastes and even looks just like meat. As a vegetarian I thought I could not live without parmasen on pasta then gave it the flick anyway discovered tasty savory yeast flakes to use instead and found it delicious and have recently bought a new vegan parmasen from Angel food which tastes just like paramsen but is also better for health. Hurting animals is no longer needed as so many great same tasting products are on the market and are better for you health wise. Look and give them a try. I was offered a vegan cookie today with a superb aroma and so delicious. Good cruel free food is everywhere it is your choice now. If you can have good excellent tasting food without hurting animals why wouldn’t you?
God, I wish you DIDN,t write this. I do love bacon, and chicken, and occasionally a steak. Yet I would never harm an animal. I guess, like many other people, we just go shopping and never think about this was a pig, or cow or chicken. I,m an old woman and on a strict diet and can only eat chicken. When I eat bacon or beef I always get sick. But that DOESN,t. mean I won,t cheat once in awhile. Guess it just DOESN,t enter my mind when food shopping. So I guess all I can say is Guilty as Charged. Thanks for more guilt, but you are right.
While I appreciate the point the author is trying to make, the fact IS that what we consider “companion animals” are still deep in the woods of torture, abuse, and criminal neglect, in this country, too. So, it’s not entirely a great comparison. We still have vivisection, dog fighting and racing, K9 torture and abuse (which I know about, but most people don’t have a clue), and people who think that having a dog means keeping it outside on a chain without shelter, and tossing it some kibble once in a while. Cats are roaming the streets in all kinds of horrific weather, looking for food and shelter, and are often poisoned because they are considered a “nuisance.” Cruelty behind closed doors, even in hell holes that call themselves “shelters,” occurs all the time.
Love the thought, not wild about the analogy.
Well said She. I agree. And your comment about K9 abuse is appreciated. I just recently became aware of the serious and widespread issue of K9 abuse disguised as *training* and I was in shock. This is an issue that needs serious exposure. However easier said than done when dealing with law enforcement “officials”. Thank you for mentioning..so few people are aware of this problem. I keep hoping I’ll find a way to notify a group that does undercover videotaping taping to help or a petition etc but it seems people are too afraid because of dealing with the police. Very sad and unfortunate for these dogs.
Because some animals were made for meat for man. Such as deer, and other animals. How would we eat healthy without meat? God gave us meat animals for that purpose. I dont have a problem with people eating dogs if it comes to starvation, but whne it come to beating, and torturing them for fun…thats when its wicked and evil.
Animals were not made for meat for man. They are living, breathing, feeling beings that want to live and take care of their young. They have that right just as we have that right. We are not better than them. And ask any vegan how they eat healthy without meat, we do it all the time. All animals that you eat are living in horrible conditions, are abused on a regular basis and the animals that you consume are filled with disease and fecal matter. The climate is being ruined by the overproduction of animals and their waste and the grain that we are feeding them could be feeding starving people all over the place.
Sorry, still eating meat. Thanks anyways.