Patriarchy and speciesism are intertwined forms of oppression which manifest in a multitude of ways. Understanding how these forces intersect will help unpack how male identifying persons can liberate themselves from the insidious aspects of each.

In this piece we unpack how patriarchy reinforces speciesism, how speciesism can reinforce patriarchy and why we need to tackle both dominant ideologies for both non-human and men’s liberation.

A note on terminology

Men’s Liberation

A quick historical note, when we refer to male liberation we do not infer the insidious modern men’s rights movement. What we refer to is The Men’s Liberation movement of the 60s and 70s, which then got dissolved and split into two movements: one that was pro-feminist and eventually got absorbed into the general feminist movement; and the other which we now know as the Men’s Rights Movement and is anti-feminist. While the MRM is able to call attention to some gender disparities that negatively affect men (suicide, workplace fatalities, lack of concern male rape and abuse victims, etc.), where they falter is who and what they identify as the root cause of these issues and how best to rectify them. The Men’s Rights Movement — while claiming to be a force for men — is diametrically opposed to Men's Liberation, which sees itself as an ally and complement to feminism. Taken from r/MensLib

Speciesism

Speciesism is the false belief that animals other than humans do not deserve moral consideration in the way humans do. This stems from the ideological fallacy of human supremacy, that is the belief that there is something intrinsic in humans that grants us more moral value than other sentient beings. This belief underpins the structural violence in which non-human animals are exploited, mistreated or disenfranchised. It is akin to other forms of supremacy that result in marginalised beings.

How patriarchy and speciesism reinforce each other

The consumption of non-human animal flesh and secretions has deep ties to patriarchy and toxic masculinity.

In our culture, men are taught, reinforced and valued for behaviours which denigrate empathy and compassion. This is manifest in schooling, parenting, workplaces and advertising. All touch-points of male identity building push socially-constructed attitudes that describe the masculine gender role as violent, unemotional, sexually aggressive, and so forth. Around the world, societies feminise compassion and masculinise eating meat. As Carol J. Adams explained in The Sexual Politics of Meat, “Meat becomes a symbol for what is not seen but is always there — patriarchal control of animals and of language.”

Human–human relations can help explain gender differences in human–nonhuman relations, and exploitative tendencies towards the environment and nonhuman animals may be built upon shared psychological mechanisms [1]. It is not just the bodies of other humans that men are taught to dominate, non-human animals are also seen as lesser-than in respect to the hierarchy of patriarchal dominance. Most hunters are male, and of course, it’s men who are told that eating meat, is the manly thing to do.

In modern times, our conception of food has been skewed by a gendered industry that tells men they are “strong” when they have the most muscle, the least amount of feelings, and ingest the most “manly” protein, like bacon, steak, and sausage [2]. One study even found that vegan and vegetarian men are seen as less sexually appealing among some women, as they deviate from the traditional behaviours of men in society.

“Men who are invested in inflexible models of masculinity as opposed to seeing gender identity as socially constructed and changeable, tend to have more problem with the idea of compassion to other animals, as historically that has been antithetical to dominant models of masculinity.” — Dr Richard Twine

The devastating effects of this lust for flesh results in the exploitation of billions of non-human animals every year. Not only the bodies and secretions consumed, but “masculine” entertainment (rodeos, horse racing, bull fights) and male dominated science using vivisection [3]. Toxic masculinity, pushed on men through the patriarchy, results in speciesist behaviour which oppresses all beings seen as “lesser-than”.

Each time we affirm the standards of masculinity built from harming or marginalising others, we lower our expectations for men to live a fully realised and compassionate life [4].

How patriarchy hurts men

Toxic masculinity “socially-constructed attitudes that describe the masculine gender role as violent, unemotional, sexually aggressive, and so forth,” is one of the many ways the patriarchy hurts not just women and non-human animals, but men [2].

Of course, the majority of the ways the patriarchy affects men are beneficial, from the lack of laws policing their bodies to their setting as the “default” gender. On the other hand, there are plenty of ways that the patriarchy actually hurts men, many of which are hiding in plain sight [5]. Narrow and stereotypical norms of masculinity constrain men’s physical and emotional health, their relations with women, their parenting of children, and their relations with other men [6].

Cultural norms can force men to suppress their own feelings, in order to fit in with narrow expectations of masculinity that suggest emotions are weak. Under this idea, men are naturally physically strong and those who are “weak” are “snowflakes”.

“Just as not all men perpetrate acts of toxic masculinity, not all fit a standard mould of manhood. Many men might be struggling with their sexual identity, or have never had opportunities afforded to others because of their social class. They might not be working, or are parenting their children full time. They might also be men who at some point, have been subject to toxic comments or violence from other men.” [7]

How the animal industrial complex hurts men

Male bodies are more at risk in workplaces, with some studies suggesting males may be ten times more likely to be killed at work [8]. Men make up the bulk of workers in the animal industrial complex, these working conditions are detrimental to physical and emotional health.

A 2009 study by criminologist Amy Fitzgerald found that, in comparison with other industries, slaughterhouse employment increased total arrest rates, including arrests for rape and other violent crimes. According to PTSD Journal, “These employees are hired to kill animals, such as pigs and cows, that are largely gentle creatures. Carrying out this action requires workers to disconnect from what they are doing and from the creature standing before them [9].”

Across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, men consume more meat than do women (Adams, 1990) [10]. By consuming more animal products, men also incur health risks associated with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers [11]. Associating masculinity with the consumption of meat is actively hurt men by keeping them tied to a products with serious health consequences.

Advertising linking meat and other unhealthy consumer products to masculinity is leveraged by the notion that, to be a real man, you should do and be the diametral opposite of a woman. According to these standards, to be manly is do as much harm as you can to your body or at least, display supreme unconcern for your health outside of your gym-sculpted physique.

The beyond meat “beast burger”

This is glaringly apparent in the far right’s new favourite insult: “soy boy”. The idea is that if you drink dairy-free milk alternatives, you are obviously weak and feminine (based on the faulty belief that soy products increase men’s oestrogen levels, even though this hasn’t been scientifically proven and indeed “manly” products such as beer have both higher phytoestrogen concentrations and in forms that do have ‘feminising’ impacts). For the men who use terms like soy boy, being called anything related to femininity is the ultimate insult. Satan forbid anyone be an actual woman [12].

Refusing to eat meat due to compassion for animals is antithetical to the current hegemonic definition of masculinity [13]. So is going vegan one way to combat masculinity under patriarchy?

How veganism can reinforce toxic masculinity

Yes and no. Vegan men contest the narrow definition of hegemonic masculinity, but fall short of challenging gender inequalities [3]. One study purports to show that although being vegan is perceived as a feminine trait, a lot of men who adopt the diet do so for masculine reasons (like rationality) instead of feminine reasons (like emotion) and are thus upholding rather subverting the patriarchy [14].

Vegan males will often frame their compassion for non-human animals in dominant terms, positioning themselves as the “carers”, “protectors” and “defenders” of the weak, rather than allies. This exemplifies the idea of the saviorism, where the (mainly white) cis male hero is viewed as “saving” the movement, the movement is positioned as “saving” the animals. Saviorism is often exemplified by decentering nonhumans and invoking human-centric views towards oneself and the movement as saviors. Activists often describe themselves as ‘being the voice of the voiceless’, however, this erases the fact that nonhumans have their own voices, communities, languages, and lifestyles very different from our own’ [15].

Although women make up the majority of animal rights activists and vegans, males dominate the media and over-represent the “celebrity activists” within the animal rights movement. This unequal representation and hero worship bolster the dominant position of males seen more broadly in society in “leadership” roles.

“The crowning of the male — usually, but not always, the cis white male — as the spokesman, the incredible “fundraiser,” the prophetic activist, the irreplaceable “leader,” is antithetical to the activism of animal advocacy… The only way to explain this disproportional role of white cis men in the leadership positions is that the movement is imitating the culture at large rather than respecting the skills of its own participants. Outside forces, such as the dominant media and funders who follow a “listen to and empower the white cis male, he’s the leader” playbook may contribute to the perpetuation of this model.”[16]

Vegan consumer products are not immune to patriarchal marketing tactics either. Consumer capitalism preys on these tropes, marketing plant-based options with the same masculine appeal as animal based products. Johnson (2011) [17] found that veganism was promoted to men by emphasizing health benefits, more specifically sexual virility and physical fitness. Animal rights activist often use tactics to “sell” veganism which center human issues and reiterate toxic masculine traits. This includes promoting muscle clad males and athletes, entrenching the stereotype that muscles are a crucial feature of the male body.

Another narrative we hear is that male vegans are better in bed and won’t suffer erectile dysfunction (not all males have penises), pushing the notion of male virility over messages of compassion. This is not only ableist and engaging in trans-erasure, but centres human bodies in a movement for non-humans.

15 Seriously Shredded Vegan Bodybuilders You Should Follow on Instagram — Men’s Health

Refusing to eat meat due to compassion for animals can be a challenge to the current hegemonic definition of masculinity. But we must be cognisant not to fall into the trap of toxic masculine behaviour.

Why men should be anti-speciesist

“The things men have to conform to pushes them away from veganism.” — Carol J. Adams

The systems which perpetuate marginalisation of humans through racism, sexism, and ableism etc., such as our legal, education, and criminal justice systems, also further entrench speciesist notions which harm non-humans.

Addressing speciesism will address patriarchy and vice-versa. Adoption of anti-speciesist principles can act as a precursor to broader total liberation. Veganism and anti-speciesist frameworks should be incorporated into the toolkit of male identifying people who want to be more compassionate, caring and humane in the fight against all forms of oppression.

“The decision to become vegetarian does not itself destabilize gender, but the subsequent social interactions between vegetarian and meat-eater demand gender enactment — or resistance,” — Anne DeLessio-Parson [18]

Adopting anti-speciesism helps in breaking common myths of masculinity which reinforce patriarchy. Identifying males should therefore address structural inequalities as well as speciesism as part of broad intersectional activism. Let’s work towards men’s liberation as part of total liberation, not reinforce patriarchy and speciesism along the way.