Human Breast Milk
Related to the issue of swallowing sperm, some people out there posit the absurd idea that breastfeeding isn’t vegan, and it’s unfortunate that this has to be addressed.
Referring back to the Vegan Society's definition of Veganism, it “is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose,” and while human beings are in fact animals, the depressingly obvious factors that have to be taken into account are plentiful.
Firstly, as any diligent critical thinker must ask themselves in a situation like this, what is the difference between cow milk and human breast milk? May seem obvious, they come from different animals, have different nutritional substance, different tastes (IIRC), but the most significant difference between the two is consent. What’s the difference between sex, and rape? Volunteering, and being enslaved? Donating, and being robbed? Consent. A mother who allows their young, whether human or animal, to suck from their teat, is a consenting adult, allowing them to drink the milk from the nipple (isn’t it weird that there isn’t any scientific term for ‘nipple?’ If there is, I certainly can’t find it), and gathering several essential nutrients, including some proteins, vitamins, and minerals. When humans use these crazy as hell machines tubes that drain the milk from the cow’s udder to package and sell, the likelihood that the cow is consenting to this is profoundly low. Cows may be intelligent animals, but the milk their body develops is reserved for their calves, not humans, and if they had the ability to understand such a thing, they’d probably rebel. It’s important to remember, that these babies need this milk to, you know, live, and not everyone is willing to go formula, maybe because it tastes like absolute shit for their own reasons, which is fine, so long as it’s vegan.
Anyhow, another issue raised by these concerned individuals is that breast milk is milk, therefore it isn’t vegan. The stupidity of this sentiment is palpable, but we’ll try to address it as maturely and intellectually as possible. Let’s go back to a particular part of the Vegan definition: “...to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food...”. So, keeping this in mind, it’s important to note that babies in general need the breast milk, as stated earlier, if they aren’t being put on (vegan) formula. So, it generally is practical for babies to drink breastmilk, and the baby mostly starts to nurse by reflex. On the subject of exploitation, we’ve already discussed how if the mother gives consent, and, unless they are being tied up in a basement being forced to give her milk to their baby (or some dangerously unbalanced fellow), it is the opposite of exploitation. And lastly, while humans are again animals, they have the ability to reason, which is why he refer to animals and ‘non-human’ animals.
Hopefully, this clears up all concerns regarding this nonissue. There unfortunately might be amendments to this article, but this should knock out 94% of the related issues. To conclude, the only way breastfeeding would not be considered vegan would be if the mother is not on a vegan diet, and gives the nutrients from that to her baby.
