"Vegan-" vs "Animal-"

I’ve recently realized that the term “vegan-friendly” probably isn’t the most appropriate way to describe foods or other items that are vegan. I think a more appropriate term would be “animal-friendly.”

To me the former term implies that the vegan is the one who should be catered to because of their seemingly ascetic lifestance. I feel like this is deceiving and unfair to the beings who are truly being exploited at the expense of humans.

“Animal-friendly” seems much more appropriate. It is a descriptive term that is inclusive of the class that is truly being exploited: non-human animals.

I don’t necessarily expect humans to start using “animal-friendly” in the way they use “vegan-friendly,” but I think it is valuable to remind ourselves [as vegans] that it isn’t about us.

Let’s all stop being boo-hoo cry-baby vegans and remember that we aren’t “giving up” animal products, and we aren’t the ones “sacrificing” things we used to love. What we ARE doing is attempting to live morally and ethically, and doing so requires a certain set of behaviors. Adhering to that behavior set does not make us victims.

The victimization of vegans needs to stop. Vegans are not the victims in this specist world. Indeed, all humans (vegan or not), are a super-privileged class. Perhaps our language should start reflecting that.