Should a True Feminist Be a Vegetarian - Essay Example

SHOULD A TRUE FEMINIST BE A VEGETARIAN Name: Lecturer: Course name: Course code: Date: Feminism stems from the calls for equal treatment of women in the societal realm. The hopes of women to excel in life are always dented by men, who only think about their vested interests in a given stance. Feminism is directly linked to vegetarianism. Vegetarians are persons whose diet is derived from plants, which may or not include dairy products or eggs but excluding any form of meat. Institutionalized exploitation always causes harm to animals of both sexes. However, prolonged abuse is usually inflicted on the female species, which includes artificial insemination, separation from their young ones, and torture on the mammary glands. Female members of any given species suffer emotional distress. A true feminist should understand the essence of vegetarianism, and meeting the callings of the latter means avoiding any diet that will contradict the advocacy of feminism. Feminist's issues have been of great concern in the global realm. They are reflected in all forms of oppression starting from unemployment, substandard education and lack of access that need to be changed. Concerning gender, sex and bodies, human rights and liberties groups have stand firm in ensuring there is equality of all the people. For example, Australia banned Peel Hotel patrons on the ground of their sexual orientation. However, some human rights groups supported the ban saying that homosexuals be allowed to relax in a particular place without bullying or intimidation. Though the feminist's movements have committed their efforts to addressing these issues, cases of mistreatment are still reported. The issue of the mobilization of bodies by the feminist's movements has raised a lot of concerns due to different interests of people challenging the efforts of feminist movements (McKenna 1996). Feminism touches on all female species on the planet. It centers in all the rights of the female gender. Issues like animal testing have dented the calls for an equal society. Animal testing using female species has been used for many decades across the globe. It has been increasing as more universities engage their students in human research. These studies make use of pigs, dogs, rats, monkeys and rabbits that are subjected to these testing. During the testing, the animals are subjected to inhumane conditions such as infecting them with deadly illnesses, mental torture, brain damage, burning their skins and other painful conditions. Other conditions entail the animals being isolated from others; put in overcrowded cages that make their lives more difficult. However, the animal testing may cover other investigations such as behavior observation such as the Thorndike theory among others. Such studies for behavior are legal and inhumane. Moreover, it has been identified that the animal testing has failed when subjected to human beings (Adams, 1995). The existing laws do not focus on the animal testing that is seen to be immoral; therefore, there is a need to ban these practices to reduce animal suffering and failure rates. For feminists to consume products of such animal is a mockery of their calls. Feminists advocate the protection of animal rights. Different factors need to be considered when weighing the humiliating these animals and increased failure rate for the targeted outcome. For instance, research shows that more than five hundred million animals in US laboratories due to the animal testing procedures while 75 million cows end up being killed without even being tested. In UK, animal testing has increased by 0.3 % over as compared to the year 2012 as more than four million animals being subjected to such animal torture. During these procedures, the animals are burnt, maimed or even skinned alive as other are subjected to powerful and potent drugs that their bodies cannot withstand. This is what feminists try to abhor. Animals have many rights that call for protection. This lab testing takes longer time even to a maximum of a year with the animals in such conditions. One primary testing that is carried on rabbits entails the Draize testing where strong chemicals are injected into the eyes of cows without any anesthesia reliever. Other testing includes skin irritancy and oral toxicity. The results are recorded for more than a month while others even over a year. These results are then used to develop medicines for human cure. It is, therefore, necessary to have stringent laws that combat such animal torturer. Feminism strives to protect the female gender from unruly treatment in the society. Research by Antivivisection Society in England ascertains that the animals that survive after being subjected to these drugs end up exhibiting different complications. The research shows that animals that are once injected with such drugs ends up having continued diarrhea, monkeys mutilate their selves or even pull out their hair, as a result, of the harmful tests that are done on them. Other investigations reveal that the Chimpanzees that were once subjected to harmful animal testing end up having extreme fear for a long time. Moreover, other animals show inflammatory conditions on their skins that when they become chronic, they increase the chances of death to the animal. Animals that are kept in kennels do not have any comfort and after their several days of suffering they are killed since their survival chances are minimal or intentionally killed not to spread the diseases to human beings. However, there are no compliance rules to safety, and no one bothers to attend to these animals after they are done with their testing. On another hand, the animal testing is not practical since it does not guarantee quick results and accurate ones. Research has proved that most of the animal testing has been successful for the animals and has failed in the humans. For, instance it is noticed that the sleeping pill was successful in the rats and later when introduced to human babies, it failed to work. In addition, the children introduced to the medicine developed different deformities. Additionally, the test on arthritis drug had protective effects on the rats and pigs brought disaster when subjected to human conditions. Research reveals that the drug led to 27,000 cases of heart attack in humans and cardiac arrest deaths across the globe. Therefore, it can be noticed that the testing takes longer time and brings damage to the environment and does not achieve that anticipated outcome. This brings out the need to adopt regulations and laws that regulate or bans the animal testing. Nutrition health and feminism all go hand in hand. Culture is what people eat and the kind of nutrients they receive, which affect their health. Healthy food consumption is equally important in reducing the risk of many chronic diseases. Each and every person belongs to some cultural group. Culture tends to influence the manner that people look, dress, interact with others as well as how they expect others to behave. The same issues happen when it comes to diet or feeding and how different people from different cultural background choose the food they eat. There are foods and feeding styles that are linked to families and particular cultures where they are strongly natured. There is an adage “We are what we eat” meaning that all the living creatures need to take in nutrients found in food for them to live. The cultural surrounding that a person lives or has grown in plays a significant role in the development of his or her identity (Paxton, 1994). Food culture touches on diverse beliefs, values and practices that has been held by a particular group. The culture that an individual lives in shows him or her how to talk, act, dress, acceptable behavior and also provide a guideline of what the culture consider as acceptable behavior. Identity is fundamentally a set a characteristics and traits that are ascribed to one particular person. Not even one person is immune from the influence of the people and groups that they encounter in their lifetime. For this reason, the society plays a significant role in defining and determining the identity of a person. Health services contribute substantially to a population's health. Food is anything that is a channel for nutrients. It is one of the main element of the human experience that opens up both the senses and experiences of the persons to their place in the world. Food is culturally defined as what can be food in one culture in not necessarily food in another culture. The culture has over the years established the food with some foods from different cultures making it to the world platform such as pizza from Italy is now consumed around the world. The primary goals of feminism are to maintain and promote health, prevent disease, restore health and function. Carbohydrates are the main energy source for the brain. Vegetarians consume food that is healthy. Consuming diets composed of vegetables and the general fruits have been positively linked with a minimized risk of contracting chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. Ms. Brown had developed high blood pressure but later on managed the condition without medication. She turned to fruits and vegetables. Recent studies project that at a similar level of calories, food that is low in energy density, provides a greater food volume. Moreover, fiber and water increase the volume of food and reduces the energy density. Fruits and the mentioned vegetables contain high fiber and water content. Therefore, they have lower calories as well as energy density. Consistent with these facts, nutritionists assert that fruits and vegetables are good substitutes for food of higher energy density. Losing weight is not an easy task. Moreover, maintaining the weight that is appropriate is also a challenge as a person ages. Nutritionists are needed to offer appropriate programs that will be effective in maintaining their health that also includes the maintenance of a sustainable weight. Fruit and vegetables are a significant component of a healthy diet. If consumed daily, they have been found to help in preventing major diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Report 2010, low fruit and vegetables intake has been estimated to cause about 35% of heart diseases, as well as 15% of stroke in the world. It is estimated that over 3.5 million affected people could not be lost yearly if vegetables were consumed increasingly. Experts propose that a person should aim to consume a minimum of 500g of fruit and vegetables daily for the prevention of the spreading chronic diseases like the heart diseases and obesity-related cases (Inness, 2001). Since vegetables have low calories, they aid in maintaining optimum health by keeping the weight in check. According to recent study nutritionists, plant-based food contains anti-oxidants that improve the blood sugar in the persons at risk of heart diseases or diabetes. Vegetables have an abundant level of antioxidants that prevent the growth of carcinogenic cells. In a conversation for change between those who support social justice and those who want to introduce a different form of justice; our social and political interests become of great concern. It means that even the activists try to reframe their bodies to match with their interests. Social change and justice can only be attained after including the concerns of all the people regardless of any difference. It is obvious that every group needs attention and thus the two parties should first set their difference aside and work towards achieving social change and justice. In doing this, every group will feel valued as a member of the society. The dietary fiber associated with consuming vegetables and fruits tend to make a person feel full for longer in a way that eliminates unnecessary snacking so that they reduce weight in the long run. In addition, the high fiber levels help in absorbing more water in the colon thereby making sure the water is retained in the fecal matter to aid in digestion. The high levels of water in vegetables and fruits is the sole reason they are fat-free and have lower levels of calories. Consuming vegetables increases water intake that flushes out the toxins from our bodies. This ensures the health and weight are sustained at an appropriate level. Moreover, not only do the fruits and vegetables improve the health, but they also prevent hypertension cases because they are composed of unsaturated fats and nitrates. Fruit and vegetables consumption plays a significant role in the overall diet through the provision of diversity. A prospective human cohort study in adults has suggested that there is an inverse relationship between body weight gain and fruit intake. Based on the already available studies, we can conclude that fruit and vegetable consumption has a potential role towards the prevention of obesity and overweight. Depending on the situations that crop up from time to time, it is evident that this is a topic that will remain in the discussion forums for a long time as it keeps on evolving from one dimension to another. Feminism takes many forms depending on the people that are affected by the issue (Pateman 1996). The study reveals that animal testing has been damaging to the environment and people who undertake these practices do not even take any protective and safety measures to safeguard these animals. Therefore, it is recommended that biological schools and laboratory with the support of the world health agencies must adopt rules that discourage animal testing. They ought to encourage the adoption of other means of medication or research based on technology rather than the use of animals in control experiments and testing that has to be translated in the treatment of humans. Alternatively, they ought to abort the use of the harmful drugs and the unbearable conditions to these animals if they have to use animal testing. However, the study recommends the banning of animal testing if they cannot observe the three R’s in research; reduce, refine and replace the animals in biological research. Such alternative methods may include the use of tissues removed from animals and the use of cultured cells. In summation, in order to meet all the feminist calls for provision of nutrition on diverse cultural background, people must learn to respect and appreciate the variety of traditions that are related to the food and the vast variation in the food practices amongst the cultural groups. People from different cultures may have different views on the various nutrition issues. For instance, some cultures in which poverty and insufficient food believe that keeping a child from being underweight is important. Such people may feel offended when their children are said to be overweight since their view on overweening is healthy. Since the start of humanity, identity has been a critical element in the life of a man. However, identity is different from personality in important respects. It is possible to share personality traits with another individual, but sharing of an identity feature suggests active engagement on our part. People choose to identify with a particular group or identity. Culture and social influence are two primary shapers of identity. Reference List Adams, J. (1995). The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory. Continuum. Inness, A. (2001). Cooking lessons: the politics of gender and food. Lanham, Md, Rowman & Littlefield. McKenna, E. (1996). Women, Power, and Meat: Comparing The Sexual Contract and The Sexual Politics of Meat. Journal of Social Philosophy, 27(1), 47-64.  Pateman, C. (1996). The Sexual Contract and the Animals. Journal of Social Philosophy, 27(1), 65-80. Paxton, K. (1994). Should Feminists Be Vegetarians? Signs, 19, 2. Read More

However, the animal testing may cover other investigations such as behavior observation such as the Thorndike theory among others. Such studies for behavior are legal and inhumane. Moreover, it has been identified that the animal testing has failed when subjected to human beings (Adams, 1995). The existing laws do not focus on the animal testing that is seen to be immoral; therefore, there is a need to ban these practices to reduce animal suffering and failure rates. For feminists to consume products of such animal is a mockery of their calls.

Feminists advocate the protection of animal rights. Different factors need to be considered when weighing the humiliating these animals and increased failure rate for the targeted outcome. For instance, research shows that more than five hundred million animals in US laboratories due to the animal testing procedures while 75 million cows end up being killed without even being tested. In UK, animal testing has increased by 0.3 % over as compared to the year 2012 as more than four million animals being subjected to such animal torture.

During these procedures, the animals are burnt, maimed or even skinned alive as other are subjected to powerful and potent drugs that their bodies cannot withstand. This is what feminists try to abhor. Animals have many rights that call for protection. This lab testing takes longer time even to a maximum of a year with the animals in such conditions. One primary testing that is carried on rabbits entails the Draize testing where strong chemicals are injected into the eyes of cows without any anesthesia reliever.

Other testing includes skin irritancy and oral toxicity. The results are recorded for more than a month while others even over a year. These results are then used to develop medicines for human cure. It is, therefore, necessary to have stringent laws that combat such animal torturer. Feminism strives to protect the female gender from unruly treatment in the society. Research by Antivivisection Society in England ascertains that the animals that survive after being subjected to these drugs end up exhibiting different complications.

The research shows that animals that are once injected with such drugs ends up having continued diarrhea, monkeys mutilate their selves or even pull out their hair, as a result, of the harmful tests that are done on them. Other investigations reveal that the Chimpanzees that were once subjected to harmful animal testing end up having extreme fear for a long time. Moreover, other animals show inflammatory conditions on their skins that when they become chronic, they increase the chances of death to the animal.

Animals that are kept in kennels do not have any comfort and after their several days of suffering they are killed since their survival chances are minimal or intentionally killed not to spread the diseases to human beings. However, there are no compliance rules to safety, and no one bothers to attend to these animals after they are done with their testing. On another hand, the animal testing is not practical since it does not guarantee quick results and accurate ones. Research has proved that most of the animal testing has been successful for the animals and has failed in the humans.

For, instance it is noticed that the sleeping pill was successful in the rats and later when introduced to human babies, it failed to work. In addition, the children introduced to the medicine developed different deformities. Additionally, the test on arthritis drug had protective effects on the rats and pigs brought disaster when subjected to human conditions. Research reveals that the drug led to 27,000 cases of heart attack in humans and cardiac arrest deaths across the globe. Therefore, it can be noticed that the testing takes longer time and brings damage to the environment and does not achieve that anticipated outcome.

This brings out the need to adopt regulations and laws that regulate or bans the animal testing. Nutrition health and feminism all go hand in hand.

Read More