I’ve experienced this many times myself. Been vegetarian for almost 3 years now. Male co-workers make unsolicited comments towards it when they find out I’m vegetarian.
It’s happened probably a dozen times or more. I am probably one of the most casual and tolerant non-meat eaters you’ll meet. I’ll chat openly with you about hunting, guns, best ways to cook bacon, steaks, burgers, etc.
I never preach or shame people for eating meat. Still, when guys find out, it’s a lot of:
“You’re a vegetarian? Ha, your girlfriend doesn’t have to know, we’ll let you eat meat here.”
“No wonder you’re always snacking, you only eat rabbit food!”
“Yeah, my wife tried that crap with me once, didn’t work.”
I even had a co-worker get in my face because he, “thought I said something about eating meat being unhealthy.” I didn’t say anything of the sort, but it was ironic coming from a guy who was pushing 350lbs and pounded 3-5 Mountain Dews a day.
Assumptions that I was only doing it because a woman was forcing me, or that I was implicitly shaming them for eating meat, or that I wasn’t getting my nutrition, blah blah.
Vegan here. I found that it’s exclusively those coworkers, that are really about their masculinity. It’s an important part of their personality to be a man. Those people tend to also dislike or don’t understand LGBT folks, and have strong feelings about the differences between man and woman and their places in society. They are not bad people. I like a lot of them. But it gets tiring and infuriating at times.
Sounds like some of my coworkers. I’m not vegetarian but some of the comments about the products in the warehouse are laughable. One coworker said he’d never eat fake meat. Same guy can’t understand how someone could be transgender. He’s a good person from all accounts I’ve heard but is stuck on that mindset. It’s nice to have something to snack on that something didn’t have to die for.
I’ve experienced this many times myself. Been vegetarian for almost 3 years now. Male co-workers make unsolicited comments towards it when they find out I’m vegetarian.
It’s happened probably a dozen times or more. I am probably one of the most casual and tolerant non-meat eaters you’ll meet. I’ll chat openly with you about hunting, guns, best ways to cook bacon, steaks, burgers, etc.
I never preach or shame people for eating meat. Still, when guys find out, it’s a lot of:
“You’re a vegetarian? Ha, your girlfriend doesn’t have to know, we’ll let you eat meat here.”
“No wonder you’re always snacking, you only eat rabbit food!”
“Yeah, my wife tried that crap with me once, didn’t work.”
I even had a co-worker get in my face because he, “thought I said something about eating meat being unhealthy.” I didn’t say anything of the sort, but it was ironic coming from a guy who was pushing 350lbs and pounded 3-5 Mountain Dews a day.
Assumptions that I was only doing it because a woman was forcing me, or that I was implicitly shaming them for eating meat, or that I wasn’t getting my nutrition, blah blah.
Well as another male vegetarian, good job, man. It’s tough to go against the grain with anything especially in the face of abuse. Keep it up!
Thanks, you too!
You coworkers sound like assholes.
Vegan here. I found that it’s exclusively those coworkers, that are really about their masculinity. It’s an important part of their personality to be a man. Those people tend to also dislike or don’t understand LGBT folks, and have strong feelings about the differences between man and woman and their places in society. They are not bad people. I like a lot of them. But it gets tiring and infuriating at times.
Sounds like some of my coworkers. I’m not vegetarian but some of the comments about the products in the warehouse are laughable. One coworker said he’d never eat fake meat. Same guy can’t understand how someone could be transgender. He’s a good person from all accounts I’ve heard but is stuck on that mindset. It’s nice to have something to snack on that something didn’t have to die for.
At least nothing cute. As a grower of food for vegans, there are definitely animals killed in the process.