Why are most vegetarians women?

[user_id]

Originally Posted by mbuszu

Life obviously begets life - as least in terms of animals and plants and life as we know it today. We know that plants emit signals when they are about to be killed and thus they can sense things and communicate (whether that demonstrates "intelligence" is of course arguable).

What is arguable? Chemical processes are not a demonstration of intelligence, if that were true every organ in your body would poses an independent intelligence. At least scientifically, there is no reason to believe that plants poses any sort of intelligence or sentience.

Originally Posted by mbuszu

I question why can't people just eat what they want to eat without making a big stink about it and trying to convert others?

Because its a question of ethics.

Originally Posted by mbuszu

I know the argument has been presented that this is a myth, but I disagree about that. If you take "in shape" people from a large variety of genetic backgrounds, Men will be larger/taller, stronger, and heavier in most (if not all) situations.

Men are, on average, larger than women and as a result have higher protein needs but they are nowhere near 10 times higher and its rather easy for vegetarian, and even vegan, men to get sufficient protein. The average man only needs around 56 grams of protein, though it may be a good idea for vegetarian men to get more like 65+ grams.

Originally Posted by mbuszu

I'm an in shape guy who appreciates the idea of eating vegetarian as much as anyone else, but I don't have the time nor energy to eat that way. I know that I can cook up a tiny piece of organic grass-fed free-range bison, lamb, or chicken and with some vegetables and fruit (and some daily supplements) I obtain everything my body needs to not digest itself for a whole day or two.

Vegetarian food doesn't take more time to prepare nor is it difficult to obtain sufficient protein from vegetarian meals. You're not going to obtain everything your body needs by eating a "tiny piece" of meat, vegetables and fruit. You seem to think that vegetarians primarily subsist on vegetables and fruit, but that would be an unbalanced vegetarian diet. Vegetarians don't need to eat more vegetables and fruit than non-vegetarians, instead vegetarians should replace meat with legumes and some additional whole grains. Some quick vegetarian meals:

- Large baked potato with vegetarian chili (can be quickly made or purchased prepared) with a salad or some steamed vegetables.
- Lentil soup with some nice crusty whole grain bread with some vegetables on the side.
- Stir fly vegetables with tofu over brown rice.
- Big salad with chickpeas and a serving of cheese with some whole grain bread.

The above meals would provide 30~50 grams of high quality protein.

[bUU]

Originally Posted by user_id

This seems to be for the US

Remarkably, I was able to discern that the OP in this thread was about the United States. It just took a bit of focus on the writer's intent in context.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by bUU

Remarkably, I was able to discern that the OP in this thread was about the United States. It just took a bit of focus on the writer's intent in context.

You don't say? But perhaps you were too focused on making a snarky comment to observe the point,namely, if the number of vegetarian men and women is roughly equivalent in other cultures then the distribution in the US is unlikely to be rooted in human biology. Which was, if you noticed, something discussed in the OP.

[selina_miller]

I am totally agree with this thread, even I have observed this in our society where most women, including me, are vegetarians. I think reason behind this is that most women maintain their body figure by having vegetarian food and the other hand men want muscular body by having non-veg.

[bUU]

Originally Posted by user_id

But perhaps you were too focused on making a snarky comment

You seem to be projecting.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by bUU

Even factoring in all such religious groups and other equivocations regarding the gender of vegetarians, there are still substantially more women (7%) than men (4%) who are vegetarians.

3% is hardly substantial.

[bUU]

Given that men and women both represent 50% of the population, a difference between 7% and 4% is a 27% difference - quite substantial.

[fireandice1000]

There is a cultural bias for females to be vegan/vegetarian and for males to eat meat. Society (at least American society anyways) perceives vegan/vegetarian males as weak and effeminate even though meat eaters tend to be frailer and weaker per unit mass. Personally I could care less about gender expectations and live mostly as a vegan. (And most of the arguments against veganism/vegetarianism are weak at best.)

[notmeofficer]

It may be in the US anyway that women are generally more conscious and introspective creatures...
Men are (wrongly) conditioned about the need for high amounts of protein and ways to attain it. Through in the meat and dairy industry brainwashing its no wonder males gravitate towards meat diets.
Better education... support by famous vegan athletes... would perhaps pierce the perception milk does a body good...

I suggest physicians committee on responsible medicine reports for some enlightening reading for my meat eating friends ...
Google vegan athletes and there are many great articles on the vegan diet and performance
Hey men... want to be a better performer... a couple of feet of dead meat purifying in your intestines doesn't make for good performance... in all areas... 'ya know?