Case Study: Vegetarianism today: are Muscovites to abandon meat "
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The authors of the project: students of the Faculty of International Journalism at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) MFA (University): Antonova Elena Balabanova Maya Leibina Natalia MATSELINSKAYA Marina, Marina struevoy, Yatskevich Anastasia.
Coordinator: Professor. POKROVSKY NE (Department of Sociology)
Organizer of the project: Eurasian Vegetarian Society (EBG), Moscow, 2002.
INTRODUCTION
We present a case study whose purpose was to identify the causes and prospects for the development of such social phenomena as vegetarianism. The study was conducted within the city of Moscow and was of an empirical nature. Starting from the general theoretical and methodological basis, we decided to divide the population into strata of the capital on several indicators: sex, age, type of professional activity, the financial situation.
Thus identified the following social groups: students, young people aged 18 to 25 years, mature men of intellectual labor, mature men in physical labor, able-bodied people who earn more than $ 1000 a month (the rich), productive people earning below $ 100 per month (the poor), and retirees. As a hypothesis we put forward a suggestion that part of the Muscovites is ready to give up eating meat and this readiness is linked with several subjective factors. The study used methods such as: the inclusion open observation, document analysis, interviews. To obtain the bulk of statistical data, we used the written form of a poll. The questionnaire included both open and closed questions. Overall, 295 respondents were interviewed, and, according to members of the research group, our sample stratification reflect the actual composition of the capital city. During the survey, we found that we prepared questions were quite valid, that gives us reason to believe that these results are representative enough. The most important part of our project was the logical analysis and interpretation of the basic concept - vegetarianism.
Conclusions of the study:
The results of our empirical work is reflected in the graphs and charts that accompany this paper. Let us explain some details and a general summary. For a start it is worth noting that we were surprised by the reaction of Muscovites on the offer to become respondents. Many people do not immediately understand what was going on, others immediately flatly refused to take part in a survey on this topic. On quite skeptical of Muscovites to vegetarianism and show the results obtained by us in one of the questions asked: 32% of respondents believe that vegetarians are followers of a religion, 15% think it just cranks and 5% believe that the so called Members of the Green Party (sm.grafik № 1).
Nevertheless, 37% of respondents have at least one friend vegetarian (graph number 2) and 66% of respondents are fairly easy to vegetarianism, believing that it is everyone's business. It is interesting that 9% of Muscovites feel sorry for vegetarians, 15% of these respected people for stability, while 13% believe that this lifestyle is harmful to health (Chart number 3). As is evident from the graphs, about half of the Muscovites on the question of whether they would like to become a vegetarian, respond decisively <none> (chart number 4). This figure is high among school-age children (69%), people in physical labor (64%) and retirees (62%). Percentage of people who might out of curiosity to refuse the use of meat, the greatest among the same people in physical labor (32%), followed by students (31%) and poor (28%). Diehard vegetarians most was among the intelligentsia (32%) and among the rich (25%), less total - among people in physical labor (2%).
The study confirmed the view that the student always enough to eat - because of fear of hunger, many students would never have given up meat. Pensioners and poor people pay special attention to health and believe that vegetarianism is not acceptable for them precisely because of its alleged harm to health. We now turn to those who are willing, perhaps not today but sometime in the future, to join the vegetarians. Consider separately for men and women (Figures number 5 and number 6). Overall, a great curiosity to the idea expressed by men. Almost half of affluent Muscovites male (49%) is ready to give up meat to stay healthy. Users of manual labor, students and retirees willing to give up meat for ideological reasons, but for the poor play a large role money. Appearance concerns of young people in the capital only: for the sake of figures prepared not to eat meat 22% students and 27% of the students. The question of religion, it seems, for Muscovites is not important, only 2% of students would give up eating meat for religious reasons.
For rich women, 18% believe that vegetarianism helps preserve the shape, and 39% are willing to become a vegetarian because they believe it is now fashionable. 8% of women manual workers and 4% of students believe that they can save money on meat. The most idealistic men were engaged in physical labor: 74% of them, if you ever give up meat, rather, for ideological reasons. Thus, the results of the survey showed that more than 10% of Muscovites polled consider themselves vegetarians (schedule number 7). Admit that this fact struck us, because we did not expect that the percentage of adherents of this lifestyle is so tall. Consider the reasons that led these people to become vegetarians (chart number 8). 33% of vegetarians have explained their commitment to plant food because they simply do not like meat. The second most popular answer to the question of why people do not eat meat, was <I feel sorry for animals> (29%). 23% of vegetarians do not eat meat because they will not allow religion, while 21% of respondents refused to eating meat for health reasons. Concern about the figure can not enjoy the steaks 12% percent of respondents. 10% of respondents to the question limited to vague wording <to convince>. Only 8% said the existence of a connection between their transition to vegetarian food and mouth disease epidemic. Vegetarians generally believe their chosen path of an individual, however, 23% of them are actively promoting their ideas and try their example to convince others to give up meat (chart number 9). Thus, we can conclude that the behavioral attitudes of Muscovites in relation to this phenomenon is quite diverse. We are convinced that the most conservative meat-eaters - are pensioners and people in physical labor. It also became clear that the ratio of pupils to vegetarianism depends on the family tradition. In general, some Muscovites believe that a vegetarian become impossible if the rest of the family continue to eat meat, because in that case, the transition to vegetarian diet will be perceived as deviant behavior. Thus, the verification of hypotheses in general, confirmed our assumptions. In our view, this study can be considered as flight. In this dynamic country like Russia, it would be interesting to conduct a panel study in the whole country to see how under the influence of fashion on the whole west and at the same time with increasing curiosity about the eastern theories will change the attitude of Russians to vegetarianism.
Eurasian Vegetarian Society invites you to participate in the sociological study of the "Vegetarian Today: the path to health or fashion?"
Your age - ____ years
Your gender Male , Female
Your education: higher incomplete higher secondary two or more higher
Your earnings: less than 100 $ 100-300 $ 300-500 $ 500-1000 $ more than $ 1000
Religious beliefs _______________________________
Your Profession _______________________________________
1. Which of the products you use?
bread, dairy products
fish meat
bird eggs
honey alcohol
2. How often do you eat meat?
more than once a day 2-3 times a year
once a day only on holidays
more than once a week generally do not eat
more than once a month
3. Do you observe religious positions?
No
Yes, definitely
try, but do not always have enough exposure
4. The man who does not eat the meat of it:
eccentric
vegetarian
sequence of the animal movement
member of the Green Party
grinpisovets
believer in some religion
5. Are any of your friends or relatives vegetarians (people who do not eat meat, poultry, fish)?
yes, all
No (I do not know)
is ___________ (number of) people
6. How do you feel about vegetarianism and vegetarians?
I do not know, never to come across this before
calm attitude, it's everybody's
I do not understand, why should they
I just feel sorry for them
I respect these people for their steadfastness
think it's bad for your health
I think it's now just become fashionable
in my opinion, this kind of religion
so to live as they are very expensive, and I envy what they can afford it
7. Would you like to become a vegetarian?
No, no way
curiosity you can try
I consider myself a vegetarian (see continuation on the back!)
would like to be, but I can not because _____________________________
Thanks for your response!
If you consider yourself to be Vegetarians, please fill in this side!
1. Why do not you eat meat?
I am a vegetarian
just do not like
I am disgusted with the taste
doctor's orders
observing the fasts
no money for meat
I would like to save a figure
vegetarianstvovat now fashionable
sorry for the animals
after foot and mouth disease epidemic fear contracting some disease
for another reason: _______________________________________
2. If you eat fish, how often?
every day
more than once a week
more than once a month
least once a month
2-3 times a year
only on holidays
generally do not eat
3. When you become a vegetarian?
began in ________ years and vegetarianism is ________ years
been a vegetarian for ________ years
but again began to eat meat because of _________________________________
4. What influenced your decision to become a vegetarian?
family tradition
religious beliefs
ideological considerations
health problems
stories and entreaties of friends, acquaintances
Other :________________________________________
5. How do you feel about non-vegetarians?
I can not sit with them at the same table
think it is everyone's business, so treat them calmly
I envy what they can afford to eat any foods
try to persuade them to become vegetarians
______________________________________ (your answer)
Thanks for your response!
