Papers by Jessica Greenebaum
Veganism, Identity and the Quest for Authenticity
Food, Culture & Society, 2012
Abstract Identifying as a vegan is a public declaration of one's identity, morals and lifesty... more Abstract Identifying as a vegan is a public declaration of one's identity, morals and lifestyle. Veganism is more than a diet; it is a philosophy and ethic. However, not all vegans hold the same norms and values. The differences are often determined by the reasons why one chooses to become a vegan. Using Coffman's theory of impression management and the presentation of self, this qualitative study examines how sixteen self-defined ethical vegans negotiate contradictions in their ethics and behavior. The vegans construct a sense of authenticity through accommodating strategies when they feel inauthentic. This is a two-prong process. They present a narrative of themselves in relation to the “other”-those they define as health vegans-and in relation to other ethical vegans. Through these narratives, this paper explores how these vegans negotiate the difficulties of living in an animal-based consumer-driven society in a manner that preserves their ethics. Additionally, this paper observes how they cope when their behavior contradicts their identity as authentic vegans.
Questioning the Concept of Vegan Privilege
Humanity & Society, 2016
This article examines and analyzes the credibility and utility of the critique of veganism as a p... more This article examines and analyzes the credibility and utility of the critique of veganism as a privileged lifestyle, both by those inside and by those outside the vegan community. Using the theory of intersectionality, I explain that the concept of vegan privilege is vague and lacks contextualization. I propose that veganism itself is not a privilege, but rather the ability to make food choices is ultimately the privilege. In addition, I argue that allegations of “vegan privilege” conceal and reinforce the cultural invisibility of speciesism and carnism. Although the ultimate mission of veganism is to eradicate animal exploitation, vegans must understand the animals are not the only ones that suffer. The structural and interactional process of “mindless eating” exploits both consumers and workers. I conclude by encouraging vegans and carnists alike to expand the circle of compassion and to understand the human costs of the capitalist industrial food complex.
Human-Non-Human Interaction
The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 2015
Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 2017
Journal of Gender Studies, 2017
If eating meat is equated with 'masculine traits' of emotional stoicism, strength and virility, d... more If eating meat is equated with 'masculine traits' of emotional stoicism, strength and virility, do vegan men threaten the concept of a stoic and domineering view of hegemonic masculinity? This research explores how 20 vegan men explain veganism in relation to patriarchal, hegemonic masculinity. We argue that vegan men engage in hybrid masculinity by modifying values associated with veganism and femininity to align with traditional masculine standards. By doing so, vegan men contest the narrow definition of hegemonic masculinity but fall short of challenging gender inequalities. Research on men and food mostly focuses on the connection between meat eating, hegemonic masculinity and corresponding systems of oppression and misogyny. Since they do not eat meat, non-vegans often portray vegan men as feminine. This study answers several questions regarding how vegan men express masculinity. How do vegan men respond to being depicted as feminine? Do they create strategies to align themselves with dominant ideals of masculinity or do they actively combat the domineering view of hegemonic masculinity? We found that while hegemonic masculinity is defined in opposition to femininity, the vegans in our study do not reject associations with femininity. We argue that vegan men engage in hybrid masculinity by modifying values associated with veganism and femininity to align with traditional masculine standards. By doing so, vegan men contest the narrow definition of hegemonic masculinity, but fall short of challenging gender inequalities. Men, masculinity and meat In recent years, there has been a growing trend of research on men, masculinity and food that highlight strict gender roles and a distinct gender binary in the Western world (
Conversions" of conviction: A study on the process of becoming a Reform Jew
This qualitative dissertation investigates the process of becoming a Jew within Reform Judaism. M... more This qualitative dissertation investigates the process of becoming a Jew within Reform Judaism. More specifically, it explores the extended process of converting to a new religion and adopting a new culture. These new Jews argue that becoming a Jew is not a life-altering experience, instead, they define their new Jewish identity as an extension of their old self. Thus, these new Jews claim that the process of converting to Reform Judaism centers more on learning what it means to be a Jew, think like a Jew, and act like a Jew than changing a set of religious beliefs. A main struggle in this process for many of these new Jews is maintaining ties to their old family while forging new ties to their Jewish family. However, since many born Jews believe that lived experience is required to fully understand the experience of being a Jew, many born Jews question the motives behind conversion. Thus, this dissertation examines how the new Jews understand, define, and defend their decisions to become a Reform Jew. I conducted twenty observations of an Introduction to Judaism class and interviewed twenty-two students and three teachers. I found that their background as cultural Christians shapes their feelings on Jewish political issues and cultural holidays. Conversion is a process and they have only begun to think like a Jew. I also noticed a difference among the generations. Unlike the older new Jews who are not becoming part of a Jewish family, the Jewish identity of the young new Jews is more tied to the concept of family than religion. Nonetheless, the new Jews argue that their conversion is a conversion of conviction, the conviction centering on maintaining a Jewish home
Managing Impressions
Humanity & Society, 2012
Goffman’s concept of impression management, front stage/backstage, and face work are used to expl... more Goffman’s concept of impression management, front stage/backstage, and face work are used to explain how the participants in this qualitative study engage in promoting veganism and vegetarianism to omnivores in daily interactions. The participants often feel silenced by stereotypes, misinformation, and conflict. They believe that this persistence of stereotypes is a psychological defense mechanism by omnivores to mask feelings of guilt. To manage this tension and present this cause in a positive light, vegetarians and vegans engage in “face-saving” techniques to protect both parties from attack and alienation. These include rejecting “in-your-face” confrontations and adopting preventative “face-saving” strategies such as avoiding confrontation, waiting for an appropriate time, focusing on health benefits, and leading by example.
Brute Force: Animal Police and the Challenge of Cruelty
Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 2005
... America Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following photographers for the use of images ... more ... America Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following photographers for the use of images in this book: Candace Cochrane: "Seized ... They come to view themselves as uniquely skilled, knowledgeable, and experi-enced (Fryer and Miyoshi 1989; McBeath and Webb 1990 ...
Placing Jewish Women into THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF Race , Classano Gender
This paper places Jewish women into the feminist and sociological conversation of identity, oppre... more This paper places Jewish women into the feminist and sociological conversation of identity, oppression, and the intersectionality of "gender, race, and class." More specifically, it reveals the resistance to include Jewish women in this discourse. Why is this oppression different from all others (or not)? Why have Jewish women been marginalized from the sociological discourse on inequality and oppression?
Vegans of color: managing visible and invisible stigmas
Food, Culture & Society
Associating veganism with whiteness and privilege is not only wrong, it marks and marginalizes ve... more Associating veganism with whiteness and privilege is not only wrong, it marks and marginalizes vegans of color in the vegan movement and makes veganism unappealing to people of color. This qualitative study employs Goffman's (1953) theories to explain how vegans of color experience both visible and invisible stigma from mainstream vegan movements and from their ethnic communities. I emphasize three reasons why my participants believe people of color are resistant to veganism: it is linked with whiteness, affiliated with privilege, and deemed incompatible with ethnicity. My participants engage in a process of differentiation and normalization from white veganism to destigmatize veganism to communities of color.
The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (online), 2015
If eating meat is equated with 'masculine traits' of emotional stoicism, strength and virility, d... more If eating meat is equated with 'masculine traits' of emotional stoicism, strength and virility, do vegan men threaten the concept of a stoic and domineering view of hegemonic masculinity? This research explores how 20 vegan men explain veganism in relation to patriarchal, hegemonic masculinity. We argue that vegan men engage in hybrid masculinity by modifying values associated with veganism and femininity to align with traditional masculine standards. By doing so, vegan men contest the narrow definition of hegemonic masculinity but fall short of challenging gender inequalities.
This article examines and analyzes the credibility and utility of the critique of veganism as a p... more This article examines and analyzes the credibility and utility of the critique of veganism as a privileged lifestyle, both by those inside and by those outside the vegan community. Using the theory of intersectionality, I explain that the concept of vegan privilege is vague and lacks contextualization. I propose that veganism itself is not a privilege, but rather the ability to make food choices is ultimately the privilege. In addition, I argue that allegations of ''vegan privilege'' conceal and reinforce the cultural invisibility of speciesism and carnism. Although the ultimate mission of veganism is to eradicate animal exploitation, vegans must understand the animals are not the only ones that suffer. The structural and interactional process of ''mindless eating'' exploits both consumers and workers. I conclude by encouraging vegans and carnists alike to expand the circle of compassion and to understand the human costs of the capitalist industrial food complex.
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Food Issues, 2015
Goffman's concept of impression management, front stage/backstage, and face work are used to expl... more Goffman's concept of impression management, front stage/backstage, and face work are used to explain how the participants in this qualitative study engage in promoting veganism and vegetarianism to omnivores in daily interactions. The participants often feel silenced by stereotypes, misinformation, and conflict. They believe that this persistence of stereotypes is a psychological defense mechanism by omnivores to mask feelings of guilt. To manage this tension and present this cause in a positive light, vegetarians and vegans engage in ''face-saving'' techniques to protect both parties from attack and alienation. These include rejecting ''in-your-face'' confrontations and adopting preventative ''face-saving'' strategies such as avoiding confrontation, waiting for an appropriate time, focusing on health benefits, and leading by example.
Society & Animals, 2004
Nonhuman animals always have played a significant role in people's lives. Lately, the technologic... more Nonhuman animals always have played a significant role in people's lives. Lately, the technological and market economy has anthropomorphized dogs to human-like behavior, particularly to status of family member or child. This qualitative study expands upon the current studies on consumption and animals and society by exploring how human-canine relationships are anthropomorphized at the family excursion to "Yappy Hour" at Fido's Barkery. The type of person who attends Yappy Hour on a weekly basis has a unique and special type of connection with their dog that goes beyond most people's relationships with dogs.
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Papers by Jessica Greenebaum