Vegan men and hybrid masculinity

Abstract

If eating meat is equated with ‘masculine traits’ of emotional stoicism, strength and virility, do vegan men threaten the concept of a stoic and domineering view of hegemonic masculinity? This research explores how 20 vegan men explain veganism in relation to patriarchal, hegemonic masculinity. We argue that vegan men engage in hybrid masculinity by modifying values associated with veganism and femininity to align with traditional masculine standards. By doing so, vegan men contest the narrow definition of hegemonic masculinity but fall short of challenging gender inequalities.

Keywords:

• Veganism
• food
• men
• masculinity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Jessica Greenebaum is a professor of Sociology at Central Connecticut State University. She conducts research and teaches in the fields of Gender, Animals and Society and the Culture and Politics of Food.

Brandon Dexter is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University’s Sociology undergraduate programme. Dexter currently works as an internal audit for a bank.

Notes

1. The definition of veganism, as coined by Dr. Watson in 1941, is an ethical lifestyle and philosophy that opposes the exploitation of all animals. Ethical vegans refuse to purchase or consume any products that rely on animals for its production, based on the moral belief that non-human animals have inherent value, and that cruelty towards non-human animals does not outweigh the potential benefits to human animals. This differentiates from vegans who are motivated to adopt a vegan diet as to maximize health. For more information, see Greenebaum (2012).

2. See Harper (2010, 2012a, 2012b) for a discussion on veganism as a form of decolonization of the body. Harper is a leading scholar on the intersection of race, class, gender and veganism.

3. Ibid.