Beslenme, Kimlik ve Erkeklik: Et Yemenin Sosyolojisi

Abstract

The biological need for nutrition is also a cultural practice involving many convergences and inequalities, especially with regard to gender. One of the most common practices of gender-based nutritional inequalities is meat eating. Indeed, meat eating has traditionally been a masculine practice in many cultures from past to present and is associated with a number of characteristics attributed to masculinity such as hunting, aggression, strength, and domination over nature. Vegetables, fruits, and grains, on the other hand, have been engendered as feminine by referring to the characteristics of gathering, submission, and sensuality that patriarchal societies attribute to women. This study aims to examine from the perspective of male athletes the relationship the masculine identity has with meat eating, which many cultures have socially constructed as a patriarchal symbol. The study was conducted in 2019 using the qualitative method and phenomenological design. Data have been collected from semi-structured interviews held with 14 men who play various sports and live in Eskişehir. The findings indicate some men to eat meat as a reproduction of masculinity and veganism/vegetarianism to be perceived as feminine; therefore, men who do not eat meat are excluded from patriarchal and sexist emphases. Moreover, another finding of the study reveals that barbequing reproduces hegemonic masculinity as a homo-social association.