Melanie Joy

Melanie Joy is an American social psychologist, professor, and author, best known for her work on the ideology of carnism. She is the eighth recipient of the Ahimsa Award – previously given to the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela – for her work on global nonviolence, including the nonviolence of our food choices.

Early Life and Education

Melanie Joy was born and raised in the United States. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Education at the Harvard University. She later pursued her doctoral degree in Social Psychology from the Saybrook University.

Career

Joy began her career as a professor of psychology and sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Her research interests include the psychology of eating animals, veganism, and animal rights.

In 2001, Joy coined the term "carnism" to describe the belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals. She has written extensively on this topic, including her book "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism".

Joy is also the founder and president of the non-profit organization, Beyond Carnism, which aims to expose and transform carnism to create a more compassionate and just world for all beings.

Publications

Joy has authored several books and articles on carnism and veganism. Some of her notable works include:

• "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism" (2009)
• "Strategic Action for Animals" (2008)
• "Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters" (2017)

Awards and Recognition

In 2012, Joy received the Ahimsa Award from the Institute of Jainology in London, recognizing her contributions to the promotion of global non-violence.

See Also

• Carnism
• Veganism
• Animal rights