Feminism and Veganism: A Shared Ethic of Motherhood
If we stand for women's rights, we must also stand for the rights of all mothers, including nonhuman ones. A dairy cow, like a human mother, carries her baby for months, only to have that child taken from her shortly after birth. Her milk, meant for her calf, is instead bottled for human consumption. This is not nurture, it is exploitation.
Feminism at its core is about bodily autonomy, dignity, and freedom from oppression. These values should extend beyond species. If we reject the objectification and control of women's bodies, how can we justify doing the same to other sentient beings? Veganism is the logical extension of feminism. It recognizes that all mothers, regardless of species, deserve compassion and the right to care for their young.
To honor the rights of women while consuming the stolen labor of female animals is a contradiction. Feminism and veganism must go hand in hand.