A vegetarian diet can be an excellent way for individuals to increase their intake of important vitamins and antioxidants, while reducing their consumption of harmful saturated fat. However, men are historically less likely to try the diet approach than women. Why is this?
New findings published in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests that few men become vegetarians because eating meat is generally viewed as a masculine activity. Many individuals saw giving up meat permanently as being the equivalent of surrendering a piece of their manhood.
In the study, researchers spoke with participants about their views on different food items. During these discussions people used more masculine words when talking about meat and many reported outright that they perceive men who eat meat to be more masculine than men who do not.
A second arm of the study examined 23 different languages that use gendered pronouns. They found that words relating to meat frequently took masculine forms.
“To the strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American male, red meat is a strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American food,” the researchers wrote in their report. “Soy is not. To eat it, they would have to give up a food they saw as strong and powerful like themselves for a food they saw as weak and wimpy.”
The findings have important implications for men’s health and nutrition. If males are less likely to eat fruits and vegetables because they view produce as feminine it may be exceedingly difficult for them to maintain adequate levels of several key vitamins and antioxidants.
This affects more than just those who would consider vegetarianism. Men who view meat as masculine may be more inclined to order a steak or hamburger when they are out to dinner rather than a meal that incorporates healthier options. Over time, this could lead to nutritional imbalances.
