Eurasian Vegetarian Society

Case Study: "Vegetarianism today: Are Muscovites abandon meat"

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The authors of the project: students at the Faculty of International Journalism Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) MFA (MGIMO): Antonova Elena Balabanova Maya Leibin Natalia MATSELINSKAYA Marina, STRUEVA Marina Yatskevich Anastasia.

Coordinator: Professor. POKROVSKY NE (Department of Sociology)

Lead Project: Eurasian VEGETARIAN SOCIETY (EBO), 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 with a general theoretical and methodological framework, we decided to split 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 from 18 to 25 years, mature men of intellectual labor, physical labor, mature adults, able-bodied people earning over $ 1000 a month (the rich), productive people earning less than $ 100 per month (poor) and pensioners. As a hypothesis we put forward a suggestion that part of the Muscovites is ready to renounce meat, and this readiness is associated with several subjective reasons. The study used methods such as: the inclusion of an open observation, document analysis, interviews. For the bulk of the statistics, 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 trained us questions were quite valid, that leads us to believe that the results fairly representative. The most important part of our project was the logical analysis and interpretation of basic concepts - vegetarianism.

CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY:

The results of our empirical work are reflected in the graphs and diagrams, which are attached to this work. Let's clarify some data and a general summary. For a start it is worth noting that we were surprised by the reaction of Muscovites to offer to become respondents. Many people do not immediately understand what was going on, others once flatly refused to take part in the survey on this topic. On quite skeptical attitude of Muscovites to vegetarianism and show the results obtained by one of the questions asked: 32% of respondents believe that vegetarians are adherents of a religion, 15% think it's just a crackpot, and 5% believe that the so called Members of the Green Party (sm.grafik № 1).
Nevertheless, in 37% of respondents have at least one friend vegetarian (graph number 2) and 66% of respondents belong to vegetarianism quite calm, considering that it is everyone's business. Interesting that 9% of Muscovites feel sorry for vegetarians, 15% of these people are respected for resistance, while 13% believe that this lifestyle is harmful to health of (chart number 3). As can be seen from the figures that 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 the greatest among children of school age (1969%) of the physical labor (1964%) and pensioners (62%). Percentage of people that would for the sake of curiosity to refuse the use of meat, the greatest among the same people, manual workers (32%), followed by students (31%) and poor (1928%). Passionate vegetarian mostly found among the intelligentsia (32%), and among the rich (25%), least of all - among the people of physical labor (2%).
The study confirmed the view that the student always enough to eat - just because of fear of hunger, many students would never have given up meat. Pensioners and poor people pay special attention to the health and believed that vegetarianism was unacceptable to 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 № 5 and № 6). In general, more curiosity about this idea expressed by men. Almost half of affluent Muscovites male (% 49) ready to give up meat to save your health. 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 the figures are prepared not to eat meat 22% of students and 27% of schoolchildren. The question of religion, it seems, for Muscovites is not so important, only 2% of students would give up meat for religious beliefs.
For rich women, 18% believe that vegetarianism helps retain shape, and 39% are willing to become a vegetarian, because, in their view, it is now fashionable. 8% of women manual workers and 4% of students believe that they can save on meat. The most idealistic men were engaged in manual labor: 74% of them, if you ever give up meat, then, rather, for ideological reasons. Thus, survey results showed that over 10% of Muscovites polled consider themselves vegetarians (schedule number 7). We admit that this has hit us, since we did not expect that the percentage of adherents of this way of life will be so tall. Consider the reasons that led these people to become vegetarians (chart number 8). 33% of respondents attributed their commitment to the vegetarian plant food because they simply do not like meat. The second most popular response to a question 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. Caring for the figure does not allow the steaks to enjoy 12% percent of respondents. 10% of respondents to the question limited to vague wording <to convince>. Only 8% admitted to the existence of communication between their transition to vegetarian food and mouth disease epidemic. Vegetarians are generally considered the chosen path of the individual, however, 23% of them are actively promoting their ideas and try to convince others by their example give up meat (chart number 9),. Thus, we can conclude that the behavioral attitude toward the Muscovites in relation to this phenomenon is quite diverse. We found that the most conservative eaters - are pensioners and people physical labor. It also became clear that the attitude toward vegetarianism school depends on the family tradition. Actually, some Muscovites believe that it is impossible to become a vegetarian, if all other family members continue to eat meat, because in this case the transition to vegetarian diet to be perceived as deviant behavior. Thus, verification of the hypothesis in general, confirmed our assumptions. In our view, this study may well be regarded as flight. In this dynamic country like Russia, it would be interesting to conduct a panel study in the entire country to see how under the influence of fashion on the entire western and at the same time with increasing curiosity of the Eastern theories will change the attitude of Russians to vegetarianism.

Eurasian Vegetarian Society invites you to participate in the sociological study "Vegetarianism 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 _______________________________
Profession _______________________________________
1. Which of the products you do not eat?
  bread, dairy products
  fish meat
  bird eggs
  honey alcohol

2. How often do you eat meat?
 more than once a day  2-3 times per year
 once a day  only on holidays
 more than once a week  do not eat
 over once a month

3. Observe whether you are religious positions?
 No
 Yes, sure
 I try, but not always enough exposure

4. The man who does not eat the meat of it:
 eccentric
 vegetarian
 follower of the animal movement
 member of the Green Party
 grinpisovets
 believer in some kind of religion

5. Are any of your friends or relatives vegetarians (people who do not eat meat, poultry and fish)?
 yes, all
 No (do not know)
 a ___________ (specify number) people

6. Do you think about vegetarianism and vegetarians?
 not know, never done this before with not experienced
 relaxed about it is everyone's business
 I do not understand what they need it
 I just feel sorry for them
 I respect these people for their resilience
 think it is bad for your health
 I think that this is now just becoming trendy
 I think, a kind of religion
 to live as they are very expensive, and I envy that they can afford it

7. Would you like to become a vegetarian?
 not, for anything
 curiosity can try
 I already consider myself a vegetarian (see continuation on the back!)
 would like to be, but can not because _____________________________
Thanks for your response!

If you consider yourself Vegetarians, please fill in this side!
1. Why do not you eat meat?
 I am a vegetarian
 simply love
 disgusted me this taste
 doctor's orders
 observe posts
 no money for meat
 I want to keep the figure
 vegetarianstvovat now fashionable
 sorry for animals
 after foot and mouth disease epidemic fear contracting an illness
 another reason: _______________________________________

2. When you eat fish, how often?
 daily
 more than once a week
 more than once a month
 least once a month
 2-3 times a year
 only on holidays
 do not eat

3. When you become a vegetarian?
 began in ________ years and vegetarianism is ________ years
 was 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
 conscientious
 health problems
 stories and entreaties of friends, acquaintances
 Other :________________________________________

5. How do you treat non-vegetarians?
 I can not sit with them at the same table
 think this is everyone's business, why treat them calmly
 envy that they can afford to eat any food
 try to convince them to become vegetarians
 ______________________________________ (your answer)

Thanks for your response!