Are vegans the same as vegetarians? The effect of diet on perceptions of masculinity

• Published in: Appetite Vol. 97; pp. 79 - 86
• Main Author: Thomas, Margaret A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Diet; Diet Surveys; Diet, Vegan; Diet, Vegetarian; Female; Gender; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Sex Factors; Veganism; Vegans; Vegetarianism; Vegetarians; Masculinity; Gender; Diet; Veganism; Vegetarianism
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.11.021

Food and food consumption matters in interpersonal interactions. Foods consumed can affect how a person is perceived by others in terms of morality, likeability, and gender. Food consumption can be used as a strategy for gendered presentation, either in terms of what foods are consumed or in the amount of food consumed. Finally, foods themselves are associated with gender. Previous research (Browarnik, 2012; Ruby & Heine, 2011) shows inconsistent patterns in the association between vegetarianism and masculinity. The current research conceptually replicates and extends this research by including the explicit label of vegetarian. The four studies in this article provide increased information about the effects of diet on gendered perceptions. Study 1 shows that vegetarian and omnivorous targets are rated equally in terms of masculinity. Study 2 shows that perceptions of vegetarians and vegans are similar, though comparing this research with past research indicates that perceptions of vegetarians are more variable. Study 3 shows that veganism leads perceptions of decreased masculinity relative to omnivores. Finally, Study 4 tests one possible mechanism for the results of Study 3, that it is the choice to be vegan that impacts perceptions of gender. Implications include increased knowledge about how meatless diets can affect the perceptions of gender in others. Multiple directions for future research are discussed. •Vegetarianism was linked to lower perceived masculinity, this association is questioned.•Perceptions of vegetarians are more variable than perceptions of vegans.•Compared to omnivorous diets, those eating a vegan diet are perceived to be lower in masculinity.•Choosing to be vegan, not simply a vegan diet, leads to the perception of lower levels of masculinity.•The effects of a vegan diet on perceived masculinity is slightly stronger for males than for females.