The Potential for Plant-Based Lifestyles to Address Oppression and the Ideological and Systemic Obstacles to Widespread Veganism

Griefenberg, Portia Kristina (2021) The Potential for Plant-Based Lifestyles to Address Oppression and the Ideological and Systemic Obstacles to Widespread Veganism. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

This research critiques how scholars, social justice advocates, and the general public oppose oppression when they ignore the domination of animals in factory farming. The focus revolves around people who choose not to adopt a plant-based lifestyle when they have the option to do so if they are not under systemic oppression. I am referring to affluent people living in industrialized countries who can change their diet. This is not geared towards indigenous people, others in food deserts, and anyone else who does not have access to alternatives. This work seeks to dismantle carnist ideology, white and human supremacy, along with providing a counternarrative to the stigma, “white vegan privilege.” This research examines how the messages of Black Veganism, a counter to mainstream veganism which only examines the plight of animals, examines the scope of colonial thought and how race extends beyond human bodies can combat oppression. Black Veganism is a tool that could prevent using the same logic system that white supremacy uses to ‘other’ anyone who does not equate to the ideal ‘Human’ (white, Christian, male). In my study, I interviewed ten vegetarians using a multi-phasing coding method to reveal if/how their dietary choices might show parallels with other social justice movements and the barriers to going vegan.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Animals; Colonialism ; Liberation; Privilege ; Social justice ; Veganism; Black veganism
Subjects:	T Technology > TX Home economics
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences > School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Date Deposited:	25 Feb 2022 20:50
Last Modified:	25 Feb 2022 20:50
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5765

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