Vegan Men’s Food and Health Practices: A Recipe for a More Health-Conscious Masculinity?

Abstract

In the age of the Anthropocene, questions of ecological sustainability, animal ethics, and human health are intimately entangled. From a gender perspective, compared to women, men’s diets tend to be less healthy and sustainable. This is linked to worse health outcomes for men. Therefore, alternative, more ethical ways of eating that have the potential to improve men’s health and well-being and simultaneously contribute to better public health and sustainability outcomes should be encouraged. Veganism addresses issues of food, health, climate change, and animal justice simultaneously. This article explores vegan men’s food practices in relation to health and well-being, drawing on qualitative interviews with 61 vegan men. The interview material was analyzed using the method of thematic analysis. Our findings suggest that becoming vegan encourages positive changes in men’s health behavior. This includes paying more attention to nutrition and taking better care of one’s health. Vegan men report experiencing better physical and mental well-being upon going vegan. Based on these findings, we argue that vegan men’s food and health practices contribute to the emergence of healthier masculinities, as vegan men help to challenge links between risky health behavior and masculinity.

An Integrative Review on Dining Experiences of Vegetarians as a Minority Food Culture: Based on Qualitative Research

“…본 연구에서 선정된 12건 연구의 일반적 특성은 다음 과 같다(Table 1). 채식주의자의 식사경험을 탐구한 질 적 연구는 2011-2015년 6건(50.0%), [19][20][21][22][23][24] 2018-2021년 6건 (40.0%) [25][26][27][28][29][30] 이 발표되었다. 연구 설계는 현상학적 연구 방법이 4건(30.0%), [22][23][24]26) 근거이론 방법 2건(16.7%), 20,25) 내러티브 탐구 2건(16.7%), 28,30) 자문화기술지 1건(8.3%) "...certain affections that no longer occurred after following a vegetarian diet (e.g., digestive or skin issues, dizziness, gynecological issues)."…”

“…상자는 채식의 여러 단계 중 모든 동물성 식품을 섭취하지 않 는 비건만을 대상으로 한 연구가 3건(25.0%), 21,26,30) 고기를 먹 지 않는 채식주의자를 포함한 연구가 9건(75.0%) 19,20,[22][23][24][25][27][28][29] 이었다. 으로 건강해진다고 느꼈으며, 채식 이 자신을 반영한다고 느끼고, 22,24,26,29) 식단 선택에 대한 자 부심을 가짐으로써 22,24,29,30) 정체성을 확립했다고 응답하였 다. 또한, 채식주의 식사를 통해 요리를 하게 되었고, 25,29,30) 건강한 음식을 선호하게 되었고, 26,30) 신체 이미지에 집착하 Experienced difficulties Themes Citations…”

“…으로 건강해진다고 느꼈으며, 채식 이 자신을 반영한다고 느끼고, 22,24,26,29) 식단 선택에 대한 자 부심을 가짐으로써 22,24,29,30) 정체성을 확립했다고 응답하였 다. 또한, 채식주의 식사를 통해 요리를 하게 되었고, 25,29,30) 건강한 음식을 선호하게 되었고, 26,30) 신체 이미지에 집착하 Experienced difficulties Themes Citations…”

“…There's nothing complicated about it." 30) Feeling disconnected due to resistance from non-vegetarians Non-vegetarian ignorance of vegetarianism ''I learned along the way that the majority of people have no idea how the animal gets to that plate. They are just completely ignorant about that" 20) "I don't know what to make for you" 24) "They always say, oh just eat it, it's not a big deal, but they don't understand what a big deal it really is to me."…”

“…Table 5. Negotiation method related to difficulties in dining 채식인의 채식에 대한 무지 20,22,24) 와 채식에 대해 듣고 싶어 하지 않고, 20,26) 변화를 원하지 않는 20,30) 비채식인의 저항으 로 인해 단절감을 경험하였다. 동시에 채식주의자는 사람들 의 인식에 과민하게 반응하고, 22,23,25,28) 부정적 인식을 가정하 고 22,23,25,28) 자신을 개방하지 않고, 20,22,25,28) 도덕적 우월감을 느끼면서 19,21,24,25) 스스로 경계를 만들었으며, 비채식인과 입 장이 상충되면서도 20,22,24,26,29) 불쾌감을 주는 존재가 되고 싶 지 않은 22,28) 딜레마를 경험하였다.…”