Gender is a very important factor when considering people’s perceptions toward animal issues, including vegetarianism and veganism (veg*nism). Although estimates vary, it is clear that the majority of people who are sympathetic toward animal issues and identify as veg*n are women. In a 2005 survey of the literature on veg*nism, Faunalytics concluded that about 63% of vegetarians are female.

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Gender is not only correlated to vegetarianism, but is also closely related to other animal protection issues. For instance, a recent Gallup Poll finds that women are less likely than men to find it acceptable to wear fur, conduct medical experiments on animals or clone animals. In another study, Linda K. Pifer found that of all demographic and social attitudes she examined in her study of youths’ attitudes toward the use of animals in scientific research, gender has greatest effect on opposition to animal research.

Gender also matters in regard to a host of other issues that are of concern to animal advocates. A survey of the literature that addresses gender differences in human-animal interactions finds that men are more likely than women to hunt and to engage in acts of animal cruelty while women are more likely than men to hoard animals. Women are also more likely than men to support animal rights and animal welfare.

Gender is an important factor for animal protectionists to consider. First, it is important to know who our market is; for example, if it is more likely we can convince women to be veg*n or join animal protection campaigns, then outreach should be careful to be inclusive of women and women’s issues. The relative lack of veg*n men and their lower support of animal protection issues should also help direct our work. This indicates that there are likely stereotypes, myths and perceptions about veg*nism and animal issues that make them seem less attractive to men. We need to figure out how to ameliorate that problem so that our movement speaks to everyone.