Gordon, Andrew J.2017-04-172017-04-17December 22016-12December 2http://hdl.handle.net/10657/1726Cultural constructs have long been a central focus in the field of anthropology. Food, along with other cultural constructs discussed by anthropologists, such as gender, emotions, dress, empire, and illness, to name a few, are crucial when studying human culture. This text discusses the contemporary cultural constructions of meat via Roland Barthes’ theory of myth. Unveiling the myths associated with animal-product consumption furthers our understanding of food and dietary habits as being culturally constructed. Myths, in all contexts per Barthes, are social constructs. They are ideas, beliefs, customs, traditions, and norms that—despite being myths—shape, create, and inform our realities. Vegans have become modern-day mythologists by demystifying the myth of meat and have created another way of life that seeks to end non-human animal exploitation, dismantle colonial and patriarchal systems of power, and regain individual and collective health and wellness.application/pdfengThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).AnthropologyCultural ConstructsFoodDietary habitsVeganismAnimal-Product Consumption2017-04-17Thesisborn digital