From Lifestyle to Activism and Back: Young People’s Participation in Vegan Movements

In this chapter, I focus on young people’s interest in veganism. Veganism is defined as a daily commitment not to participate in the exploitation of animals (Larue & Giroux, Le véganisme: “Que sais-je?” n° 4068. Presses Universitaires de France, 2017). How does this individual action relate to more collective forms of political action? To understand this phenomenon, I draw on my dissertation fieldwork to bridge structural, relational and cultural theories in the sociology of political participation. While structural approaches focus on the political and organizational context, relational approaches emphasize the role of relationships, and cultural approaches value the role of ideas, identity and emotions. I argue that understanding contemporary animal rights activism means understanding the back-and-forth between structure, ideas and identity, and between individual and collective action. In other words, it means capturing the ebb and flow of lifestyles and activism over the life course, especially among younger members of the movement. Finally, I argue for a redefinition of the boundaries of political participation. This redefinition should include the family sphere.