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October 18, 2002

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Vegetarians receive flack from
public on stereotypical image

I'm not shocked that people don't think I'm a worthy vegetarian, but I am a little offended. People are not always what they appear.

My colleague, Professor Sheryl Tynes, in Sociology, recently stopped me after learning of my vegetarian lifestyle. She was surprised, she said, because people often think that only women are vegetarians. As she walked away, I swear I heard her say "If I wanted to, I could kick your…"

She's not the only one. I get this kind of response all the time.

I think I just strike people as a carnivore. One reason is because I dress like one. You don't have to dress like a rancher to look like a meat-eater. It's more about what you don't wear. I don't wear sandals, except to the pool, or tie-dye shirts. I think this works against me. When I think of vegetarians I think of facial hair and those little tight ponytails. I have never had a ponytail.

I must seem too "commercial" to be a vegetarian. I have taken a number of trips to Disney World, including my honeymoon, and I like professional sports. Most vegetarians apparently are more likely to have a hookah pipe and wear canvas backpacks than go to a Spurs game.

Professor David Ribble in Biology - now he looks like a vegetarian - but he's not. He is active in social issues and cares about things like the aquifer. He wears color t-shirts without logos and studies animal life in Africa. But he eats meat. People are not always what they appear.

I am a great recycler, unless I'm too busy. I go camping, and I stop by the student booths on the Esplanade on Earth Day. That should count for something.

I find myself under siege by meat-eaters a lot. Most times, when people find out I am a vegetarian, they want to fight me, or at least challenge my choice. When they are really desperate they accuse me of killing plants, which they claim have feelings. I have feelings too.

I am not a vegan, which angers some meat-eaters. They think they've found a loophole in my vegetarianism because I pour milk on my cereal. I know I have successfully fended off my challengers when they walk away mumbling, "Well, I like meat and am not going to stop eating it." No problem.

I find myself under siege by meat-eaters a lot. Most times, when people find out I am a vegetarian, they want to fight me, or at least challenge my choice. When they are really desperate they accuse me of killing plants, which they claim have feelings. I have feelings too.

I'm not sure why meat-eaters want to discredit vegetarians. I don't want to challenge meat-eaters. Even one of my own children, Aaron, loves meat. He looks forward to nights I have evening commitments on campus because it means pork-chops on the house.

Recently I learned that men's soccer coach Paul McGinlay has been a vegetarian for about twelve years - just like me. I've never seen him in sandals or a ponytail, and I know he likes sports. He started because his bride was a vegetarian, which I don't think should count. I also have a hard time thinking of the British as being good vegetarians.

I guess people are not always what they appear.

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