Vegan adoption has skewed female significantly since the movement gained mainstream attention — 71% of UK vegans are women. The reasons reveal as much about cultural roles (women cooking for families, women caring about ethics) as about specific food preferences.
What's driving the trend
Environmental concerns. Animal welfare. Health beliefs (mixed evidence). Cultural shift making veganism more visible and acceptable. Specific influencers and authors. Cultural connection between care work and food choices.
Where the data on benefits is mixed
Health: well-planned vegan diet equivalent to omnivore for most outcomes; poorly planned vegan diet inferior. Environmental: meaningful reduction in carbon footprint per person. Ethics: clearer benefit for those who prioritise animal welfare.
What to know if considering
Vitamin B12 supplementation essential. Iron and zinc require attention. Omega-3 supplementation (algae-based) advised. Generally requires more nutritional planning than omnivorous diet.