Are anti-fur activists also vegetarians/vegans?

Question

I will admit - at one time I used to wear fur. That was when I had no idea how inhumanely those animals were treated. A few years ago I made a decision to stop wearing all fur, and it has been over 4 years since the last time I wore it.

I am not a vegan or a vegitarian, however, I tried to adapt to being a vegetarian, but having been brought up on meat all my life I felt nutritionally robbed and unsatisfied just with vegetables/fruits, and some dairy. One day I'm hoping I will be able to adjust to being a vegitarian, but thus far I haven't been able to make that transition.

Although I don't wear fur, I have some cashmere sweaters, but I wear them to keep warm because of very cold winters here. I think that wearing fur is unnecessary, since it is just to make a fashion statement, that's why I don't wear it, but as I've mentioned, I do wear cashmere sweaters sometimes and I do eat meat because my body disagrees with a vegetarian diet.

Also, I wear leather shoes, but just like with the cashmere, it is only for practical purposes. I tried wearing pleather shoes and it made my feet sweat. I am anti-fur, but I often feel like a hypocrite telling others not to wear it since I do wear leather footwear, cashmere sweaters, and eat meat. Am I contradicting the whole point of the anti-fur concept? Can I continue to stay away from fur and encourage others to do so as well? I don't want to be a hypocrite, but just because I have not come full circle yet in regard to meat eating, etc... doesn't mean that I don't love animals and don't want to at least be part of the solution in any way I can, by at least making a conscious decision to not wear fur.

Answer 1

Not necessarily. Fur is a cruel and unnaturally used industry. There are many non-veg folks who recognize this fact, and try to put it right.

Answer 2

I often attend anti-fur demos (Harrods is the common one for me!), so I can answer this from personal experience.

The vast majority (at least 90%) of those present are vegans - activists tend to be those who want to do as much as possible to achieve the way of life they see as ideal, so it is more likely to be reflected in their diet. Quite frequently the public will come up to us and ask if we eat meat (some you can tell are just hoping you'll say "yes, I can't live without it" so they can denounce you as a hypocrite and tell you your whole campaign is meaningless!)

However, some are not vegan. There are some who continue to eat meat (although a fair few of those are trying to cut it out gradually). Some simply argue that humans gain something from eating meat nutritionally, whereas fur is completely unnecessary. As a vegan I'd disagree about their justification for eating meat, but that is their reasoning behind it.

As an extension, it's almost certain that activists on a demo will not be wearing any leather because of the shared logic, but alternatives that look a lot like leather will be. This gets us a lot of abuse - I have a fake fir trim on my coat and you have learn to be very quick to fit in the "I'm glad you like my fur because it's fake" before they're too far away to hear. And the number of people who walk up to us just to look at our shoes and then (falsely) announce that we're wearing leather is unbelievable - neither are (normally) to be found on an anti-fur demo.

Another thing is that animal rights campaigns are generally run by the same people - aks any police officer who has had to attend multiple demos and they will tell you certain faces pop up time and time again. Some of the guys on the fur demos also organise parts of anti-vivisection campaigns, free vegan food tasting and anti-McDonalds leafletting - so another reason why most are vegans is because the campaigns are so closely linked.

Answer 3

Not necessarily. I was strongly opposed to fur for as long as I can remember. I've only been a vegetarian for a couple years.

I think a lot of people feel that it is "okay" to kill an animal if you're going to eat it, but not just for it's hide/head/etc. I've always been opposed to both fur-wearing and "trophy hunting". Of course now that I'm vegetarian, I pretty much oppose all hunting, but I still feel much better about someone hunting for food than I would if they were hunting for a new bear-skin rug.

Answer 4

Most of us are vegetarians or vegans, of course. But even if you eat meat, you can still see the horrors of the fur industry. It doesn't necessarily make you a hypocrite. One step at a time, dear, and you are headed in the right direction!

Answer 5

Some of them are. I am completely against wearing fur. I feel that there is not a good reason to skin them like that sometimes just for style. I on the other hand am not vegetarian or vegan. You need protien and if everyone didn't eat meet they would over populate and starve. So to answer your question. Some people are but it doesn't just go hand in hand automatically.

Answer 6

Im no longer with peta or something and that i keep in mind that interior the previous the floor of animals became mandatory in some elements as a advise for survival interior the iciness months. i'll although understand their anger even as human beings (for no good reason yet to exhibit off) have animals killed in basic terms as a thanks to seem good. Its no longer right in my eyes highly because you may have a fur coat that seems in basic terms almost as good because the real concern yet did not easily should be made out of murdered animals.

Answer 7

Not always. I was anti fur way before I became vegetarian.

Answer 8

i am but i hated fur before i came a vegan

Answer 9

Some are some aren't. For those that aren't, having *some* morals are better than having none, so more power to them! : )

Answer 10

the really extreme whacko ones certainly are, or else they are hippocrits.

As a side note, it is worth mentioning that they are also usually a little colder than a fur-wearing person -- physically and emotionally. :)