Tag: Carnism

According to Dr. Melanie Joy, the founder of the concept of carnism, the ideology is upheld by a specific set of defense mechanisms that prevent people from questioning their dietary choices. These mechanisms work to suppress the cognitive dissonance that arises when a person who values compassion participates in a system that causes animal harm.

According to a 2022 survey by the Vegetarian Resource Group, roughly 63% of the U.S. population identifies as semi-vegetarian or reducetarian, highlighting the diversity of modern eating habits. When seeking the other end of the dietary spectrum, many people ask: what is the opposite of a vegan? While a single term is debated, the most common answers include the all-animal product carnivore, the balanced omnivore, and the sociological concept of carnism.

Psychologist Melanie Joy coined the term 'carnism' in 2001 to describe the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals. This ideology normalizes the consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs, while hiding the ethical contradictions from view.

According to Beyond Carnism, the term "carnism" was created to name the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals. While veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude the exploitation of animals, its philosophical opposite goes beyond simply consuming animal products, touching on the cultural ideology behind it.

While veganism is a relatively modern term, the diversity of human diets has existed for millennia. To define someone who is not vegan, the most accurate term depends on their specific dietary habits, which can include eating meat, fish, eggs, or dairy.

Over 40% of the world's population identifies as meat-eaters, but what is it called when you eat a lot of meat, especially on a regular or exclusive basis? While the biological term for a meat-eater is 'carnivore,' the modern context includes dietary patterns and medical consequences that offer a more complex answer.

Social psychologist Melanie Joy coined the term carnism in 2001 to describe the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals. This article explores **what is a carnist diet** by examining the ideology's core principles and societal impact, distinguishing it from simply being an omnivore.