We know eating red meat can kill us and make us feel happy but the real reason guys eat it? It makes them feel manly. According to scientists, red meat is synonymous with masculinity making it desirable for guys who view themselves as masculine.
According to the paper in the Journal of Consumer Research, both men and women view red meat as “macho and masculine”. In one of their studies, “the top 5 most masculine foods were, in order of most to least masculine: medium-rare steak, hamburger, well-done steak, beef chilli and chicken. And the most feminine foods, from most to least, were: chocolate, peach, chicken salad, sushi and chicken.”
Brian Wansink, the study researcher and director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, said that the masculine association with red meat matters to red-eating masculine men:
“To the strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, all-American male, red meat is a strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, all-American food.”
Basically, if those who view themselves as masculine or feminine associate certain food with masculinity or femininity, it makes sense to eat said masculine or feminine food. So don’t blame yourself for loving red meat, guys. Blame gender roles! Blame society! [Live Science via Neatorama]