Does+meat+make+men+more+masculine?

Malika Abdul N8909822 Tutor: Steven Badman

MEAT AND MASCULINITY The ethical and health impacts of eating meat

**Masculinity** {noun} possession of the qualities traditionally associated with men



**The Artefact ** This is an image of Zhang Huan, a leading Chinese performance artists, in a suit made completely out of meat. Huan is known notoriously for using his body as his primary tool. He states that “the body is the only direct way through which I come to know society and society comes to know me. The body is the proof of identity. The body is language”. The layers of meat create bulging contours and thick solidity, the image of meaty masculinity.

**Public Health Issue ** The artefact represents masculinity, and the fact that eating meat makes men feel like a real man. In the past eating meat has been associated with strength, which hasn’t changed, still most men today opt for a large steak, rather than vegetables or salads, because that’s what they perceive that women are supposed to eat (Buerkle, 2009). This leads to overconsumption of meat, which can have detrimental health effects and leads to an increase of preventable morality and mortality. Instead of following the recommended daily intake of 1 ½ serves of meat daily, most Australian men are consuming almost one weeks worth of meat in one sitting. They are also over consuming processed meats, which should be limited to a few times a week opposed to a few times everyday.

**Literature Review ** For many years eating meat has been strongly linked with cultural conceptions of masculinity and power (Mathew, 2005). The image of men as hunters with hearty appetites eating their kill cooked over an open flame depicts our cultural conceptions of gender (Buerkle, 2009). In today’s society, meat is still viewed as a stereotypical food for men, with many men not considering a meal without meat to be a “real” meal (Mathew, 2005). Studies have shown that consumers of a healthy diet (fruit, salad, whole-wheat bread, chicken and potatoes) were seen as more moral, attractive and fit, but less masculine and less likeable than consumers of an unhealthy diet (steak, hamburgers, French fries, doughnuts) (Mathew, 2005). Consumer attitudes to meat are influenced by a number of factors, including price and availability, and there are also major differences in different countries, due to cultures and traditional eating habbits, but in all coutries men tend to eat more meat than women (Williamson, Foster, Stanner & Buttriss, 2005).

Red meat includes beef, veal, pork and lamb (fresh, minced, frozen) (Williamson, et all., 2005). Processed meat includes meat that has been preserved by methods other than freezing, such as salting, smoking, marinating, air drying, or heating (eg. Ham, bacon, sausages, salami, corned beef and tinned beef) (Williamson, et all, 2005).

Many studies have suggested that people around the world, including Australia consume more meat and processed meat than recommended, including: Williamson, et all. (2005), Baghurst, Leppard, and Record (2000) and Ruby and Heine, (2011). Numerous studies have also found that men typically consume more processed meat and red meat than women do. This over consumption can lead to many significant health impacts.

Meat has always been central to Australian diets (Baghurst, et all., 2000). A study conducted by Williamson, et all., (2005) found that on average Australian men consumed 88g of meat per day, where as women only consumed 45g. Similarly, Ruby and Heine (2005) found that high meat diets were more associated with males than females. Beef and veal are seen to be the most popular type of meat, along with bacon and ham (Williamson, et all., 2005). The men who consume more meat and processed meat also tend to be a smoker, have a higher body mass index, have a lower education and have lower physical activity levels (Sinha, 2009). They also tend to leave the fat on their meat and choose fattier cuts of meat, opposed to trimming it off and choosing leaner cuts of meat, which is the healthier option (Williamson, 2005).

A study investigating peoples perceptions of others who follow omnivorous and vegetarian diets (Ruby & Heine, 2011), found that both omnivores and vegetarians rated vegetarians as being more virtuous and less masculine than omnivores. Healthy diets, those of vegetarians, were seen as being more moral, intelligent and attractive, whereas a high fat diet, those who ate meat and meat products, were seen as having more masculinity and power (Ruby & Heine, 2011).

Over consumption of red meat and processed meat has been seen to have detrimental health impacts. Since the 1990’s there has been an increased amount of research being conducted about the negative health impacts of eating red meat and processed meat.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A study conducted by Chao, Thun, Connell, McCullough, Jacobs, Flanders, Rodiguez, Sinha &Calle (2005), found that a high intake of red and processed meat was associated with a higher risk of colon cancer, in the distal portion of the large intestine, with processed meat being at a higher risk. White meat did seem to have any significant impact on health. There were numerous types of areas of the body impacted by cancer, including: the oral cavity and pharynx, digestive tract, respiratory tract, soft tissue, skin, female reproductive system and breast, male reproductive system, urinary tract, endocrine system, lymphoma and leukemia. CVD, including hypertension, cebebrovascular disease, atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm and other diseases of the arteries, arterioles and capillaries were identified as being common. The study had half a million participants, with 47 976 male and 23 276 female deaths after a 10 year follow up.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Research conducted by Sinha, Cross, Graubard, Leitzmann, & Schatzkin (2009), conducted a study about the relationship between red, white and processed meat. They found that red and processed meat was associated with a modest increase in total mortality, CVD mortality and cancer mortality.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Similarly both studies by Pan, Sun, Bernstein, Schulze, Manson, Stampfer, Willett, and Hu (2012) and Rohrmann, et all. (2013) found red meat to be associated with an increase risk of chronic disease, with processed meat having a higher risk. Pan et. all (2012) found that 9.3% of male deaths and 7.6% of female deaths could have been prevented if those participants consumed less that 0.5g of meat per day, opposed to almost 180g per day. Healthier alternatives of red meat are associated with a decreased mortality risk of up to 19% (Pan, et all., 2012). Likewise, Rohrmann, et all. (2013) found that 3.3% of deaths could have been prevented if all participants had a processed meat consumption of less than 20g per day.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although these studies have found significant data that links overeating meat and processed meat with health issues, they need to take in account other factors that may alter their data. For example actors such as diet, lifestyle, alcohol consumption, smoking status may not have been noted in each study, and therefore may have impacted mortality data. Cancer and CVD can be caused by many different aspects and not merely by eating too much meat and processed meat.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both CVD and certain cancers such as bowel cancer are two of the biggest preventable cancers in Australia (Bowel Cancer Australia, 2013 & Heart Foundation Australia). By living a healthy life, with a good diet and exercise routine, these diseases can be prevented. When consuming meat, it is important to follow the nutritional guidelines and opt for other alternatives, such as chicken and fish (Sinah, et all., 2009). Men need to challenge the social and cultural stereotypes and take care of their health.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cultural and Social Analysis ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We need to change the social and cultural perceptions of eating meat, by changing and challenging the normality’s of what men need to eat to be seen as being manly and masculine. Studies have explored the relationship between meat eating and masculinity, and its only a perspective and stereotype that meat makes you a man. Different cultures, religions and societies have their own views on why men have to eat meat, and how macho and strong it makes them. Therefore it is crucial to consider society and culture to be able to address this issue of overconsumption.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When a man goes to the pub, it is assumed that he will order a large steak, because it is perceived as a social normality for men. Similarly, ordering a small salad is deemed appropriate for women. It has been shown that as meal size increases women are perceived by others as less feminine whereas men are seen as just as masculine if not more so (Buerkle,2009). Therefore men are perceived to be masculine just by merely eating. We need to change this stereotype and show men that it is okay for them to order a chicken salad or healthier options that are traditionally viewed as being a woman’s meal.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By using education and providing men with the knowledge of the implications of overeating meat we can strive to change their eating habits and help them adopt a healthier lifestyle, without making them feel less of a man. Knowing about the health implications of eating red meat and processed meat, may change their minds about ordering a giant steak with fries or picking up a sausage roll or meat pie from the convenience store.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The mortality and morbidity rates for meat and processed meat consumption, especially for men. Chronic diseases like CVD, diabetes can be prevented with good diet and lifestyle choices. Controlling portion sizes, eating a variety of food, exercising, not smoking, drinking less alcohol can lead to a disease free life, which improves over all health and wellbeing.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is also a large amount of advertising promoting fast food outlets like Maccas and Hungry Jacks, which is promoting the consumption of processed foods, like burgers, nuggets and wraps which under go harmful chemical processes. Studies have shown that on average 31% of ads on tv are about food, with 81% being unhealthy foods (Chapman, Nicholas & Supramaniam, 2006). They try to make it look healthy, and for someone who is uneducated and has a low socioeconomic status, they will buy it for themselves, and their families. Especially for busy men, they're attracted to places like this because of the cheap food, efficiency and time they save by buying their meals and eating it on the go.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is however a new generation of metrosexual men, who are more interested in living a healthy lifestyle and caring more about their appearance. This group of men don’t care about restrictions of traditional male roles and do what they want to do, regardless of social perceptions about it being unmanly. Metrosexuals are comfortable enough with their sexuality to go out and order a salad or a typical woman’s meal, and enjoy it without feeling any less masculine (Buerkle, 2009). These men challenge the social perceptions of what you need to do and how you have to act in order to be a man.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Men need to think about their health and the current lifestyle choices they are making to be able to live a healthy and happy life. It is important for public health professionals to promote a healthy lifestyle and create awareness about this issue of overconsumption. They need to promote the fact that it is okay for a man to eat vegetables and that it doesn’t make them any less muscular, masculine or strong. After all, if we can change the traditional qualities of being a man, we could potentially save lives by promoting a healthy life.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Analysis of Artefact and Learning Reflection ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe it is the perfect image for my topic. This artefact is an excellent interpretation about how men feel more masculine when they eat meat. It shows how they feel huge and bulging with mass, just like The Hulk. And although the image can be interpreted in many ways, I believe it represents masculinity in relation to meat consumption. The meat mimics the human muscles, contouring and making the man look stronger and more masculine. Like the saying goes, 'you are what you eat'.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe that this assessment, including researching, has made me more aware of the health implications of meat. I didn't know much about this topic until I did some research about meat eating habits and I found it interesting. Many males that I know also have this perception that they need to eat large amounts of meat to be able to get all of the protein and nutritional benefits of it, when in fact that is the complete opposite of what they should be doing. Im glad that I know know the implications about eating too much meat, I never know that it had such strong links to bowel cancer and CVD. Although I don't eat red meat very often, I will definitely keep in mind the recommended portion sizes, which I never really followed in the past. Ive also noticed that the portion sizes in some food outlets are almost 3 times as big as the recommended size, which makes me think that people probably think thats how big their meat portions should be. Having to include social and cultural perceptions and stereotypes has been very insightful, opposed to just looking at data, as it uses a different thinking process.

Overall, I've found the unit health, culture and society to be very insightful and interesting. I've learnt so much and have come across issues that I didn't know existed, or didn't know much about, like about where you live impacts your health.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reference List ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Davis, S. (2012). Suit of armor offers +5 protection against vegetarians. [Image]. Retrieved October 31, 2013, from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Williamson, C. S., Foster, R. K., Stanner, S. A., & Buttriss, J. L. (2005). Red meat in the diet. Nutrition Bulletin, 30(4), 323-355. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-3010.2005.00525.x

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sinha, R., Cross, A. J., Graubard, B. I., Leitzmann, M. F., & Schatzkin, A. (2009). Meat Intake and Mortality. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(6), 562-571. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.6.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baghurst, K., Leppard, P., & Record, S. (2000). Red meat consumption in Australia: intakes, nutrient contribution and changes over time. Australian journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, 57(4), 34-40. Retrieved from[]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chapman, K., Nicholas, P., & Supramaniam, R. (2006). How much food advertising is there on Australian television? Health Promotion International, 21(3), 172-180. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dal021

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ruby. M. B., & Heine. S. J. (2011). Meat, morals and masculinity. Appetite, 56(2), 447-450. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0195666311000341

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oxford Dictionaries. (2013). Definition of masculinity in English. Retrieved on 2 November, 2013, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/masculinity

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chao, A., Thun, M. J., Connell, C. J., McCullough, M. L., Jacobs, E. J., Flanders, D., Rodiguez, C., Sinha, R., &Calle, E. E. (2005). Meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 393(2), 172-182. doi: 10.1001/jama.293.2.172.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buerkle, C. W. (2009). Metrosexuality can stuff it: Beef Consumption as (Heteromasculine) Fortification. Text and Performance Quarterly, 29(1), 77-93. doi: 10.1080/10462930802514370

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cosgrove, M., Flynn, A., &Kiely, M. (2005). Consumption of red meat, white meat and processed meat. British Journal of Nutrition, 93, 933-942. doi: 10.1079/BJN20051427

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pan, A., Sun, Q., Bernstein, A. M., Schulze, M. B., Manson, J. E., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2012). Red Meat Consumption and Mortality. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(7), 555-563. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2287. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rohrmann, S., Overvad, K., Bueno, H., Jakobsen, M., Egeberg, R., Tjonneland, A., Nailler, L., Boutron, M., Clavel, F., Krogh, V., Palli, D., Panico, S., Tumino, R., Ricceri, F., Bergman, M. M., Boeing, H., Li, K., Kaaks, R., Khaw, K., Wareham, N., Crowe, F., Key, T., Naska, A., Trichopoulu, A., Leenders, M., Peeters, P., Engeset, D., Parr, C., Skeie, G., & Ribolo, E. (2013). Meat consumption and mortality – results from the Euroopean Prospective Investigation into cancer and Nutrition. BMC Medicine, 11, 63-70. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-63.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heart Foundation Australia. (2013). Cardiovascular Disease. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/information-for-professionals/data-and-statistics/Pages/default.aspx

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bowel Cancer Australia. (2013). Bowel Cancer. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=163&Itemid=289#facts

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Learning Engagement and Reflection ** http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/share/view/64697602

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