Does Buying Vegan Shoes Truly Make a Difference?
Sometimes I question why I am so committed to wearing non leather shoes. I look at all the beautiful leather items there are, I look at the leather shoes at Jcrew, and wonder, am I trying to make things hard for myself? Am I trying to deny myself nice things for some weird psychological reason? What good is buying non leather shoes doing , especially when those shoes are usually made in China or India, countries where there are NO animal welfare laws or those laws are never enforced. Why not buy Toms shoes–the ones with leather soles– because at least by buying a pair of Toms, a child in need gets a pair of shoes.
Well, sometimes I really do wonder, am I fooling myself into believing buying vegan shoes is important?
Sometimes I read things like this article and this one though, and am reminded I am doing the right thing.
One problem I have as a vegetarian, and I wonder if any one else reading this blog has it too, is that I’m afraid to educate myself and learn more about vegetarianism and the specific treatment of animals because watching those kinds of videos or reading those kinds of books and articles is too disturbing. I’ve watched the videos and read the books, but it’s not something I want to do more of. I hate seeing animals tortured. One of my least favorite experiences in the world is seeing a truck carrying cattle on the road. I feel so bad for them, going off to the feedlots or off to slaughter, and I can’t do anything about it.
The once easy thing I can do something about is refusing to buy leather. You are then participating in a boycott of the cruel and immoral leather industry. It’s not a lot, but it is something, and I think it does make a difference very gradually. I’m no expert on abolitionist history, but imagine the message it would have sent if you were living in the south in the 1850s and one of your neighbors refused to have slaves. Although he was not working to end the slave trade himself, he had done something small and powerful. That’s how I feel about boycotting the leather industry.
My readers, please share your thoughts with me on this troubling philosophical issue. Do you think being a vegan or a vegetarian and refusing to buy leather makes a difference? Do you ever feel like just eating a hot dog or just buying that beautiful pair of perfect leather shoes. How do you justify being a vegetarian or vegan? Ever wonder if you’re just trying to appear morally superior, or just refusing to admit to yourself that you’ve unnecessarily limited yourself in your dining choices and lifestyle? I’d LOVE to know. Comment below.
You know, it’s a good question you ask here. I have to say that to me it all comes back to the basic principle that you cant make decisions for anyone but yourself. As much as we would like to (PETA advocates included), it just isn’t possible. I have been vegetarian for 7 years and at 18 that’s quite a feat. But the point is that if I choose to or not to eat meat I’m the person who has to live with my decision at the end of the day. It doesnt feel like a limitation, and it doesn feel like a moral thing. It’s just a matter of making yourself bearable to the one person you have to answer to; yourself.
This is such a good point. I feel the same way–it doesn’t feel like a limitation or even really a moral thing. It’s just something I want to do. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on my blog. I checked out your blog and saw you wrote up a thing about my blog–AWESOME. I am so flattered. I am so glad that somebody is finding the blog useful!! Sometimes it’s so crazy not knowing who is reading your blog and whether anyone is finding it helpful, but it is all worth it when I get comments like this.
I can no longer feel good about buying leather after learning what is done to the animals. So, in that way, even if it didn’t make a difference, I would feel unhappy to support it with my money. However, I absolutely believe it makes a difference. Just look at all the vegan options that are around. That is largely due to the increased demand since so many people are turning vegan. The numbers of vegans have increased over the years.
Nancy,
thanks for taking the time to write me your views. You are so right that it is only because people have started turning vegan that there are so many vegan options available today–the tide really is turning. It’s incredible how many realistic fake leathers there are available right now for use in shoes. I really think like you said the number of vegans will continue to increase until almost everyone is vegetarian or vegan. I feel the same way about how knowing how animals are treated I just can’t feel right supporting the industry. I’m so glad to know others feel the same way.