What is carnism?

Carnism is the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals, much like vegetarianism and veganism are belief systems whereby people refrain from eating most or all animal products.  “Carn” means “flesh” or “of the flesh” and “ism” denotes a belief system.

Because carnism is an invisible belief system, most people view eating animals as a given rather than a choice. However, when eating animals is not necessary for survival, as is the case in the majority of the world today, then it is a choice, and choices always stem from beliefs.  People’s beliefs about “edible animals” have a dramatic effect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors toward animals raised for food. In meat-eating cultures around the world, people eat only certain animals, but they don’t think about why they find the meat of some animals disgusting and the meat of other animals appetizing or why they eat any animals at all.

The term, carnism, was first used by social psychologist Melanie Joy in 2001. Joy’s doctoral research on the psychology of eating meat revealed that individual attitudes and behaviors toward animals were influenced by a widespread social belief system that was invisible and unnamed. Dr. Joy is the author of "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism."

To learn more about carnism go to: www.carnism.com

To hear Dr. Melanie Joy speak about carnism go to: Dr. Melanie Joy on carnism.

To buy Dr. Joy's book: Visit our store.