We know that animals get slaughtered for the meat dishes we love, but why doesn’t this knowledge always stop you from eating meat?
“When you know better, you do better” is a saying that you’ve probably heard, but it isn’t always the case when it comes to eating meat. Although you might watch You Tube videos of animals getting tortured or living in small cages, this might not always cause you to want to give up meat at your next meal. What gives?
“But Cows Aren’t Intelligent”
A reason for a lack of guilt over meat consumption is that you might convince yourself the meat you’re choosing to eat hasn’t been taken from an animal that you think is intelligent. This makes you feel less worried about that animal’s welfare. This rings true – you’ve probably heard people say that they can eat cows but not dolphins because cows are not as intelligent, for instance. Making this judgement on the animal in question can help you to keep guilt at bay while you dig into a burger or steak.
Other Ways We Rationalise Eating Meat
There are other ways in which you might justify having meat in your diet to decrease the feeling of guilt. According to a research team from Lancaster University, there are four rationalisations that meat eaters will use. These are that humans are natural carnivores, that meat is vital and necessary in one’s diet, that meat is nice to eat because it’s delicious, and that it’s normal to eat meat.
Meat is Mainstream
That last point – it’s normal to eat meat – has gone around loads of times! Meat has been a part of our lives for so long, with many of us having been brought up with it around, so that when we look at meat at the supermarket or when we attend an Easter braai, we might not make the connection to what goes on in slaughterhouses. We might not think that eating meat is not normal. The media also contributes to this – think of how many advertisements we see on television for the latest delicious steak or chicken dish. Meat is glamourised in the media.
Should We Feel Guilty?
There are many good reasons why you should give up meat from your diet. This not only includes the sad truth about how animals get treated in slaughterhouses but also because of meat’s impact on the environment. For instance, think of the gallons of water that are used to produce one quarter-pound hamburger. This is not to say that you should guilt yourself for eating meat or make others feel bad about it, but knowing more about the meat industry’s negative effects is crucial to achieve greater awareness. We live in the information age where we’re able to learn so much more about our food: where it comes from, its impact, and if it’s really healthy for us. As you do this with other food, you should also question the meat you eat. Knowledge is power.
Image credit: Syda Productions / Dollar Photo Club
