A Sociology of Working Class Veganism – A short post on my guest researcher stay at CfHAS
From August 11 to September 22, 2025, I was a guest researcher at the Centre for Human-Animal Studies at Edge Hill University, working together with Dr. Richard Twine and Prof. Dr. Bernd Sommer (TU Dortmund University) on a sociological project proposal regarding “Working Class Veganism.” Numerous environmental and sustainability studies highlight the relevance of a significantly more plant-based diet. However, workers are underrepresented among vegans, while people from the (academically influenced) middle class are overrepresented. Thus far, working class vegans have received little attention in research on veganism and sustainable dietary practices. In our project we want to explore the forms and meanings of working class veganism. During my guest researcher stay, we further developed these fundamental considerations, identified different funding formats for international collaborative research, and outlined the theoretical and methodological approach for such a study.
The guest stay was funded by a Mobility Grant from the Research Academy Ruhr, allowing me to spend nearly six weeks in Lancaster and at Edge Hill University. During this time, I regularly met with Richard Twine to work together on the proposal. Additionally, I had the opportunity to visit Dr. Rhoda Wilkie at the University of Aberdeen to discuss initial ideas for the research project and gain valuable insights into the theoretical understanding of working class veganism as well as empirical field access. At the end of my guest period, we held a workshop at CfHAS where we discussed the now further developed research proposal from an interdisciplinary perspective. It became clear how important it is to clearly define the social phenomenon being studied and how crucial it is to consider each potential respondent’s embedding in different working class cultures when examining the practices of working class vegans. In the coming weeks and months, we aim to finalize the proposal.
In addition to my academic work, I also had the chance to get to know Northwest England better and I already miss the nature around Lancaster. I particularly enjoyed hiking in the Lake District and am fascinated by how quickly one can reach both mountains and sea from Lancaster. However, one special highlight that I already miss dearly is RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve. Anyone from the region who loves birds and hasn’t yet visited Leighton Moss must go there! I had the opportunity to observe a curlew sandpiper, a hobby in hunting flight, a snipe, a cattle harrier, and numerous other wonderful birds there. Only the bittern never showed itself despite my five visits to Leighton Moss; I was even recognized by staff as “the German guy who hasn’t seen the bittern yet.” This serves as further motivation for me to successfully secure third-party funding in collaboration with Richard because then I’ll have another chance to visit Lancaster again and hopefully spot that elusive bittern!
Dr Marcel Sebastian,
TU Dortmund, Germany