vegetarians with leather bags?

[ChaChaWeed]

Actually the word "vegetarian" is defined (online dictionary) as:
a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.

Agreed regarding humane means of obtaining leather: doesn't exist unless the cow died of old age in front of you.

PETA is hardline and rightfully so. It's their job to act for the rights of animals.

Again, do what you can live with.

 

[pinklepurr]

Ah, I'm thinking of vegans then. Thank you for the clarification!

Interesting topic.

Funny thing - I know people at PETA can bring their critters with them to work. Do they realize that the flea/tick meds they use were tested on animals? If there's another way to test those, I don't know about it Unless there's some kind of holistic flea/tick preventative - garlic perhaps?

No matter what you do, you can't win sometimes. I agree, just live life and enjoy it. I guess a person who uses leather items and not eat meat can still technically be a vegetarian - I guess it's more of an ethics kind of thing though.

 

[vhdos]

^That's jumping to a lot of assumptions. I'm sure that not everyone who works at PETA brings their animals in to work with them and not everyone even treats for fleas and ticks with traditional meds. I guess I'm not even sure what flea & tick prevention has to do with vegetarians wearing leather?

 

[pinklepurr]

I didn't say all PETA members own pets and/or bring them to work with them. If they have pets, they can bring them.

Just adding that vegetarians/vegans may be challenging the definition themselves in other ways and not even know it. Wearing leather may not even be the only concern - what about cosmetics, drugs, toiletries, vaccines for pets (which some PETA members own, my PETA-working neighbor had a dog, they even have a dog park out back)- so many of the ingredients are tested on animals. Where do you draw the line?

Just goes to show that it's hard to live that lifestyle - too many rules I'd be breaking for sure. Didn't want to start a debate, just my insight like the rest of the commenters.

 

[chloehandbags]

^ I don't think they're rules, as such, though?

The only 'rules' are those factors which define whether one, technically, falls into the vegetarian, or the vegan camp, or whatever.

The original question (albeit asked in a roundabout sort of way) was: is it hypocritical to wear leather(?), if you are someone who doesn't eat meat (i.e. a vegetarian) and as far as I'm aware, it was firmly established, several decades ago (at least!) that, no, it isn't hypocritical (within certain parameters).

One might argue that, ideally, it is better not to (and to be a vegan), but that doesn't make it hypocritical, as such.

 

[BEBEPURSE]

Ah, I'm thinking of vegans then. Thank you for the clarification!

.

It goes even further:

From wikipedia...


Veganism is the personal practice of eliminating the use of non-human animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only

 

[oceansportrait]

I don't mind as long as they're not the type of vegetarian who turns his/her nose up at people who eat meat & criticize them for it; then, I would see it as hypocritical behavior since they're criticizing people for doing something that they do too [using parts of an animal]

 

[chloehandbags]

I don't mind as long as they're not the type of vegetarian who turns his/her nose up at people who eat meat & criticize them for it; then, I would see it as hypocritical behavior since they're criticizing people for doing something that they do too [using parts of an animal]

I wouldn't defend them for doing that, but they would, no doubt, logically argue that their use of those leftover parts of the animal were not the primary reason for that animal having been killed.

Whereas, your eating of meat, would have been the primary reason for that animal having been killed.

In other words, if no one ate meat, no animal would have been raised and killed, for them to have been able to use the leftovers (i.e. the leather).

 

[oceansportrait]

I wouldn't defend them for doing that, but they would, no doubt, logically argue that their use of those leftover parts of the animal were not the primary reason for that animal having been killed.

Whereas, your eating of meat, would have been the primary reason for that animal having been killed.

But that's just the thing-- there ARE animals that are being killed JUST for the leather that they would make.... it's not as if every leather bag comes with a tag that reads "The leather of this bag was made from an animal who was killed primarily for its meat."

 

[chloehandbags]

But that's just the thing-- there ARE animals that are being killed JUST for the leather that they would make.... it's not as if every leather bag comes with a tag that reads "The leather of this bag was made from an animal who was killed primarily for its meat."

Well, this is where it gets complicated and we start falling into a grey area.

First of all, most leather is, genuinely, a by-product of the meat industry - but that can mean that it is either, literally, a by-product of an animal killed for its meat, or that it is from an animal that was considered a 'waste product' (sick, I know!) of the meat, or dairy industry (and again, would have been killed, anyway - not primarily for its skin).

Then, of course, there will be some animals that will have been killed, primarily, for their skins; they are the skins that most ethical vegetarians would try to avoid buying.

As you say, though, that may be a bit easier said than done, as there will normally be no warning.

That, however, is not the vegetarian's fault, of course.

 

[pointe1134]

I didn't want to post anything because I have nothing of much value to add to this discussion, but I did want to say for anyone who is concerned with the way that animals are killed for leather that what you may be thinking of humane is most likely not. For example, the vast majority (please note, not all) of leather coming from China and many other Asian nations is actually cat and dog skin. Also, these producers use other small animals because they are simply easier and cheaper to kill. You can look up videos online (I know PETA has some) about animals being killed for belts and shoes in China, and the animals are alive when they skin them. Bullets are expensive and are unnecessary to kill small animals who, when tied or chained down, are easy to skin and will die quickly. Boiling the small animals is also another popular and cheap method. Seeing as how the majority of leather products available around my home (Ohio) are from China, people are wearing cat and dog leather that were skinned alive while they walk or play with Fido and have no idea where their sneakers came from.

Cows, on the other hand, are of course harder and more dangerous to skin while being alive, so I am assuming that they kill these large animals either with bullets or electrocution prior to skinning. At least, that is what I have read and seen in videos.

Just in case anyone is going to google these clips, please be aware that they are EXTREMELY graphic and may be impossible for you to watch. I know I just sat there and cried when I saw them. I am NOT a vegetarian and I regularly enjoy eating meat but I DO NOT either buy leather products made in Asian countries, or buy from companies that I do not know how the animals are killed. It is much more expensive to buy that Prada or LV bag, but at least I know that I am not carrying around the skin of an animal who was boiled or skinned alive. Also, just FYI, I did some research and Coach uses cowhide killed in accordance with the humane circumstances which are required in the leather industry in the USA.

I know this is long, but I hope that to maybe even one person this information is useful or insightful. I have no opinion on vegans or vegetarians using animal products.

 

[platinum_girly]

I think some posters are confused here...

Vegetarian means to not ingest meat or any animal product, they will still use animal products, just will not EAT them.

Vegans will avoid ANY animal products or by products. They will not eat them, wear them, sit on them, etc...

Just felt the need to point that out.

So therefore to answer the OPs original question- if you are a vegetarian then no, it isnt hypocritical to use leather.

 

[vhdos]

^I think that the answer depends on why a person chooses to be vegetarian. If a person chooses not to eat meat for ethical reasons, then yes, wearing leather is hypocritical. If a person chooses to be a vegetarian for dietary reasons, then no, wearing leather is not hypocritical. I don't see how if someone felt that it was not okay to kill and/or eat animals for food for moral/ethical reasons, that they could justify wearing products made by the killing of animals. That is the definition of a hypocrite IMO.

 

[V0N1B2]

Not everyone that is a vegetarian is so due to morals. My bestie has been a vegetarian for 7-8 years (she eats eggs & dairy) because she simply does not like meat. She doesn't like the smell or taste of fish and does not like the texture of meat whatsoever. She loves the smell of bacon but does not eat it. She cooks steak on the BBQ for me when I come to visit and has no issues when we go out for dinner and I choose venison for my meal. She wears leather shoes, has a fur-trimmed parka and has lovely butter soft heated leather seats in her Lexus. She is actually the coolest vegetarian I have ever met - and if she wasn't, I surely wouldn't hang out with her. Animal rights have nothing to do with her reasons for choosing not to eat meat.
I proudly eat all types of meat, wear fur and enjoy my leather shoes and handbags. I love animals as much as the next person, but let's not kid ourselves here..... Man, whether we like it or not is the top of the food chain in this world and when bunnies/cows etc. get jobs, pay taxes and start contributing to the GDP of this country, I'll stop eating them.
I hate hypocrisy with a passion but sometimes one (vegetarianism) has nothing to do with the other (leather shoes).

 

[rainwalker]

I've been a veggie for nearly three years. The main reason is because I just hate the taste and texture of meat. I don't look down on anyone else for eating it though...heck, I used to like it before my tastes abrubtly changed. I do wear leather and only buy leather handbags. I do NOT buy exotic skins, that doesn't sit right or appeal to me at all.

The only time I would look at another vegetarian and think they were wrong to wear leather is if they were being rude and putting down meat eaters. THEN I would think they were being hypocritical. I've never known anyone like that though. In fact, I think I've only ever met a handful of other vegetarians! It's not common where I live.

Vegans, like it was brought out, don't use ANY animal products. So I'd be pretty shocked if I met one wearing leather.