Tell me what you don't eat and I'll tell you who you are.
How do vegetarians relate to each other and to the rest of society? A vast question, given that food practices are such a powerful element of social identity. This project is supported by the I-SITE MUSE as part of its 2017 research support program.
The vegetarian phenomenon in France? In figures, it remains marginal. 2% of the population was vegetarian in 2017, according to the latest Nutrinet survey. "But people who declare that they have more or less drastically reduced their meat consumption represent between 25% and 40% of the population, depending on the source, so the phenomenon goes far beyond the minority of vegetarians recorded," points out Lucie Sirieix. Professor at the Institut Agro, Montpellier Supagro, the consumer behavior specialist from UMR MOISA is leading a research project on the social influences surrounding vegetarianism. This is a multi-faceted practice, with diets ranging from vegetarians who eat no meat, to vegans who don't eat any animal products, and vegans who ban them from their lives and not just from their food (excluding leather for clothing, for example). To these can be added "flexitarians" who, although the term is not strictly defined, are generally described as adopting a vegetarian diet but occasionally eating meat.
100% in human sciences
Conducted with Gilles Séré de Lanauze, senior lecturer at the University of Montpellier, this study of eating habits is funded by Muse. The study is 100% in the human sciences, with a strong emphasis on qualitative approaches. An initial survey of 25 young people practicing various vegetarian diets examines the adoption of vegetarianism, as well as relations between vegetarians on the one hand, and between vegetarians and the rest of society on the other. This is an important dimension, as the practical and social constraints induced by such diets - which are, after all, relatively marginal in society - lead us to rethink our relationships with others.
When it comes to motivations for becoming vegetarian, it's no surprise that concern for animal welfare is the most commonly cited. Animal issues take many different forms, the most radical being anti-speciesism, which advocates equal treatment for all species, human and non-human. Motivations also range from more individual concerns for health and well-being, to broader concerns for the environment.
"What interested us, beyond the diversity of motivations, was the perceived distance - or otherwise - between the vegetarian community and the rest of society", says Lucie Sirieix. Some of our interviewees point to the normality of their practices, while others point to their strong antagonism with the rest of society. For example, for T., vegetarianism "speaks of things that are commonly accepted in society", while conversely, L. believes that "in today's society, it's still inconceivable to be a vegetarian despite all the fashion, despite everything you want".
Taking action
Here again, there are many answers to the question of whether or not we practice as individuals and/or as a community. "I really feel I belong to a community, and I really appreciate this feeling of belonging. It's a bit like being a fan of a soccer club", says M., while N. asserts: "I'm not at all a community, ghetto... I don't like things like that". And the communities cited are diverse: communities of ideas (the L214 association, the Association des végétariens de France), virtual communities (a local Facebook group) or physical communities (colleagues at a vegetarian fast-food restaurant...).
Another salient aspect of the interviews was the decision to act. "The thing that really made me decide was a particular news report, which denounced overproduction and the food industry's exploitation of animals, conditioning them deplorably and force-feeding them antibiotics just to increase production and yields", says M.. The final decision to stop eating animal products is often motivated by a triggering event. In particular, animal cruelty, but also a bad personal experience or the influence of a relative or doctor.
Difficulties with family and friends are a recurring theme. "In some cases, relations with family appeared more difficult than relations with friends, with parents' reluctance often stemming from a fear for their child's health, but it also often gradually gave way to great tolerance, or even a change in shared practice within the household", explains Lucie Sirieix.
The human sciences project has yet to unveil its findings, given that food practices are such a powerful element in the construction of social identity. Another study, this time on fifteen life stories, is currently being analyzed. As for the quantitative aspect, it has been delayed by the Covid-19 crisis, but will provide figures thanks to a survey of several hundred people expected this year.