For once I've actually laid my hands on 2/3 of the books you're discussing. Huzzah! (I haven't gotten very far in the gender book, though.)

I liked Sistah Vegan because it showed patterns and differences in how and why people do things, by letting people tell their stories. I was especially interested in the piece by the woman who worked for peta, however briefly. Then there were the reasons from spirituality, from philosophy, for health, etc. etc. Such good stories.