Meat Pride Culture

I’d say a large majority of my friends’ instagram stories are photos of food. And a large majority of that, is having some sort of pride of eating meat. Meat is good. Everyone loves meat. But why?

I can understand the cultural basis around meat. Back when humans were hunters/gatherers, it was a special occasion to have meat that had to be hunted down. So there’s ceremony. And in Asian cultures (and probably most others), meat was a luxury. For the same reasons, it was hard to come by. It was a big deal that you can have meat for the meal.

Meat isn’t a rarity anymore. Yet that culture is still with us. We think we’re so evolved, but we don’t use our big brains to ask why we’re doing something and if it’s right. Meanwhile, the terms of vegetarian and vegan is met with some ire. I can understand why too, I mean look at this post. But I’d never confront anyone with their choices, I don’t think that’s constructive. I’m writing here to explain my point of view of things.

I actually thought there would be a shift a few years ago. Instead of meat pride, it’d be pride in not eating meat. Close friends started cutting meat for environmental reasons. Regardless of the reason (and there are many), there should be a pride in making any choice for moral reasons. But the tide never really shifted, and most people still post about their meat “wins.”

I try hard to be a non pedantic vegetarian, but I don’t think it moves the needle without some push. As with a lot of topics in our current society though, pushing can just become attacking and not constructive. I’m still trying to find the most productive approach.