It’s not just meat, mate! The importance of gender differences in meat consumption

ABSTRACT

Most meat-related research focuses on binary differences between men and women, ignoring differences within both genders. Through an online survey (N = 870), we investigate meat consumption behavior and how this is related to gender identity and new masculinity norms. The results confirm differences in meat consumption behavior between men and women, but also disclose more complicated differences within both groups, related to gender identity and agreement with masculinity norms. The findings also highlight the link between masculinity and red meat in particular, compared to white meat. The implications of this study for improving personal and environmental health are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Meat consumption
• gender
• masculinity

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the BOF (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds) of the University of Antwerp (BOFDOCPRO4).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the BOF (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds) of the University of Antwerp (BOFDOCPRO4).