As a female DJ in a male-dominated industry, I’ve learnt to speak up for myself. I’ve railed against those who try to tell me what I should and should not do with my own body, and I’ve negotiated for pay equal to that of my male peers.
But while I continue my fight against the patriarchy, I can’t help but notice that there are other females around me who are literally fighting for their lives: the millions of animals suffering in the meat, dairy, and egg industries.
We fail to recognise that animals in these industries are often exploited because of their femaleness. We exploit them specifically for their reproductive organs and capabilities.
For example, cows in the dairy industry are forcibly inseminated so that they will become pregnant and be able to produce milk. Soon after birth, their babies are torn away from them. If the calves are male, they are killed, but the females are raised simply to replace their mothers in the herd and will be forcibly inseminated themselves before the age of 2.
Dara Hayes — Aka DJ Tigerlily — says going vegan is an issue of animal and gender rights.
