Study reveals gender gap in vegan diets

A 15-year study finds that veganism is rising among women, but not among men, with different motivations driving each group.

Reducing the consumption of animal-based foods benefits health, the environment, and animal welfare. Yet, in most countries, vegans remain a small percentage of the population. Typically, women have been more likely than men to eat vegan, but it’s unclear if this difference has changed over time — or why the difference exists.

Researchers examined whether veganism has increased equally for men and women, and explored the reasons people choose to avoid eating animals. Two studies were conducted: the first tracked changes in veganism among U.S. university students over 15 years, and the second study compared the motivations between male and female vegans.

Changing rates over time

Between 2008 and 2023, 12,707 undergraduates (7,451 women and 5,256 men) who were enrolled in an introductory psychology course at the College of William and Mary, a university in Virginia, reported their dietary habits. Students selected from various categories, including:

Vegan (no animal products whatsoever)
Plant-based diet
Lacto-vegetarian (no eggs, fish, seafood, poultry, or red meat)
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (no fish, seafood, poultry, or red meat)
Pescatarian (no poultry or red meat)
Semi-vegetarian (no red meat)
Occasional omnivore
Omnivore

Vegans were considered to be vegans, plant-based dieters, lacto-vegetarians, and lacto-ovo-vegetarians. The researchers analyzed the percentage of vegans, both excluding and including pescatarians. They found:

Women’s rates increased: Veganism (excluding pescatarians) rose from around 4% in 2008 to 9% in 2023. Including pescatarians, rates grew from around 6% to 11%.

Men’s rates stayed flat: Rates remained around 3% over the same 15-year period, with no significant change whether pescatarians were included or not.

These trends show the gender gap in veganism has widened over time.

Motivations for veganism

The researchers surveyed 360 U.S. vegans (239 women and 121 men), with an average age of around 45 years, about their top three reasons for reducing or avoiding eating animals and animal products. These included ethical concerns over the use and treatment of animals, environmental concerns, and health concerns, which previous research has identified as the most common reasons for becoming vegan.

Women were more likely than men to choose ethical concerns as their main reason (46% versus 29%), while men were more likely than women to choose environmental concerns (31% versus 15%). Overall, health was the most common reason, chosen by about 40% of both men and women.

Why are women more likely to be vegan?

The authors report that women tend to express more concern about animal welfare and the environment, both of which may encourage veganism. Social changes — like growing awareness of animal rights — may have amplified these differences. Men’s lower rates of veganism may be linked to the cultural association between meat and masculinity, along with stronger “meat attachment” attitudes.

Limitations

The first study focused on psychology students at a single, selective university, so the results may not apply to the general population. National polls suggest that rates of veganism in the U.S. have remained steady at about 5% for decades, which may mask underlying changes in specific groups such as young women.

Implications for advocates

Veganism appears to be increasing among young U.S. American women but not men, and each group is motivated by different concerns. Thus, advocates aiming to reduce meat consumption may be more successful with targeted approaches rather than one-size-fits-all campaigns. Outreach to reduce meat consumption could be tailored by gender to be more effective:

For women: Emphasize animal welfare
For men: Highlight environmental impacts and health benefits
For all audiences: Health messages may have the broadest appeal

Original source: https://faunalytics.org/