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Study finds vegetarian and vegan men are perceived as ‘unmanly’
A study found that vegetarian men are often perceived as less manly by both meat-eaters and vegans.�
The study was published in the Sex Roles journal last year and delved into the various attitudes towards gender and eating habits, especially those that may stem from societal gender roles.�
Among other findings, the study concluded that following a vegetarian diet often leaves men perceived as less macho, and even triggers assumptions about their sexuality.�
The study looked into attitudes toward veggie diets
The study was performed by researchers in Poland. It featured various methods of information gathering, including multiple focus groups with those following a vegan or vegetarian diet.�
Research shows that women and men have different attitudes toward food and eating habits, which may stem from societal gender roles, reports the journal publication.
In most societies, eating meat is associated with masculinity, and choosing healthy and smaller meals is perceived as feminine. These stereotypes may affect eating behaviors, which may have an impact on health and well-being as well as on the environment and economy.
Vegetarian men are perceived as less manly
According to the published study, results indicated that men following a vegan diet are often not perceived as masculine. Those following a vegetarian or vegan diet spoke of experiences in which they faced gender stereotypes relating to a lack of masculinity.
I am familiar with the macho world. Not eating meat would be treated the same way as refusing to drink vodka in company, detailed one male participant who follows a vegetarian diet.
As highlighted by LGBTQ publication Queerty, the study also found links between following a non-meat diet and assumptions about sexuality too, also linked to negative stereotypes. The study found that vegans themselves feel that male vegans are perceived to be weaker, homosexual, and unmanly.
According to the conclusions, many of those stereotypes of masculinity and meat-eating lay within cultural and historical beliefs that are no longer valid such as man as a hunter, woman as a gatherer.
Some find themselves over-compensating with manly behaviors
The study even found that many of the vegetarian or vegan participants found themselves attempting to compensate for such stereotypes by showing stereotypical masculine traits and behaviors in other areas.
Male participants expressed the need to show others that they are masculine despite what one might think of them based on their diet, reported the study.
One participant was given as a prime example of this, recorded saying: If someone says to me: whats wrong with you, you dont eat meat? Whats the matter with you? Then you are able to prove to him who is more manly, as he will lie down on the ground. You can show him how wrong he is.
