Surprising figures about the dating life of vegans
In the series ‘Wow, I didn’t know it existed!’ today: the dating app for vegans. It took a Valentine’s Day to make me aware of the existence of this phenomenon, and the release of interesting dating statistics among supporters and opponents of eating meat…
Actually, the existence of such an app isn’t all that surprising, of course. Imagine you’re a huge animal lover and deeply committed to the movement to give up meat in an attempt to do something good for the planet. Then it can be quite a turn-off if your date, so to speak, sinks their teeth into a red T-bone steak with blood dripping down their chin when you go out for dinner together?
Love goes through every stomach
Alex Felipelli, the founder of dating app Veggly, is therefore absolutely delighted that herbivores from all over the world can make a connection through his app. Research also showed how different the wishes of the participating vegans are, and that they may also be considerably more open-minded than their meat-eating fellow human beings.
Something for everyone
Last Valentine’s Day, the platform Vegworldmag.com reported that research conducted worldwide by the dating app among 7,400 users showed that 57% of them are interested in making new friends through the app (platonic friends, that is), 73% are looking for a long-term relationship and 56% for a single date (let’s just call it a one night stand), and, pay attention, because this is where vegans seem to be truly modern: no less than 33.8% are open to an open relationship!
Leave the gate open
Another study (which was conducted only among Canadians, admittedly, for The Journal of Sex Research) showed that ‘only’ 20% of the general population are open to all parties also sowing and harvesting outside their own vegetable garden. Free thinkers, these vegans! Except when it comes to dating a meat-eater: 52% wouldn’t even consider it.
They don’t find each other either
A somewhat older study offers a different perspective: according to a British survey, no less than 42% of meat-eaters would not want to date a vegan or vegetarian (the reverse was not mentioned). What might be behind that? According to writer Alix Fox, meat-eaters may be afraid that vegans and vegetarians would be goody-goodies and pushy about their principles.
But then again, she also points out: you can admire someone for their steadfastness. ‘If you’re looking for someone who isn’t afraid of “commitment”, a vegan might be a really good choice.’ Yes, yes, but not someone from that 33.8% of open-relationship enthusiasts, right?
Also read:
- Historic decision: Vegan Fridays for all schoolchildren in NYC
- Why are those vegan options often so weird (and not tasty)?
- An ode to Alison Roman’s potato and leek soup
Sources: Plantbased News, Vegworldmag, the Independent
