Brian Mays

English 023-151
April 28, 2016
During the process of formulating my project, revisions were made that changed the
direction of the project. I had originally planned to try to convince men to convert to
vegetarianism, by explaining my own journey to a healthier lifestyle that was geared towards
vegetarianism. I thought that I could get other males to see that they could make the same
healthy changes in their own lives. As I continued to do research, though, I realized that it would
be much more reasonable to support the reduction of meat in males diets, since I could
personally relate to that scenario much easier, as can most men. A straight switch to
vegetarianism would be a very drastic change in most peoples lives, so I thought that it would be
more reasonable to simply try to get men to see that even a small change in your diet can have a
positive effect. Another change I made was to focus the motivation for lowering meat
consumption less on specifically improving personal health, but I talked about how it can
positively impact so much more than just your own health, such as the environment and the
animals that are subjected to the industry. I inserted more factual evidence that shows my
audience just how much meat is being consumed (average person in America was consuming
279.1 lbs of meat every year (FAO 136)... Since then, meat consumption in developed countries
has only risen, and it continues to rise (Daniel et. al. 579), in order for them to better understand
the current situation that we are in and why I am advocating for the reduction of meat in their
diets.

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I addressed my target audience by relating my own personal feelings and experiences
with meat consumption, to the feelings that men generally tend to have towards meat. I talked
about how I had the same outlook on meat consumption as most men do for all my life, but after
thinking deeper about the actualities of the meat and livestock industries, I realized that I needed
to actively be making changes in my own diet. Throughout the essay, I talked about how
becoming educated about the mechanisms behind the meat and livestock industries has led me to
change my overall feelings towards modern-day meat production and consumption, and how that
led me to actively try to make changes in my diet. I then talked about the positive outcomes of
reducing how much meat you eat, which include improved personal health, healthy lifestyle
changes, lowered risk for certain diseases (cancer, heart disease, etc.), as well as reducing your
impact on the environment and advocating for animal well-being. I also tried to get my male
audience to see that following a plant-based diet does not take away from their masculinity, and
to prove this, I gave examples of manly men (gladiators) that followed plant-based diets and
still maintained their manliness.

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Reducing Meat Consumption in Your Diet
If youre anything like the stereotypical man living in America, youre most likely
someone who likes to eat lots of bacon, hamburgers, and all the meat you can fill your stomach
with, without a single care in the world. For my entire life up to the age of nineteen, I have been
fortunate enough to enjoy three meals a day. More often than not, two out of the three dishes
included meat. For years, I have eaten my meals without any regard for how my food ended up
on my plate or how it might affect other living beings besides myself. I know that I have not
been alone in this way of life, either: From my experience, this seems to be a common trend
among males in America. After educating myself on the facts about meat consumption, though, I
am honestly ashamed of my previous attitude concerning the issue. The frame of mind that I
previously had is typical among males, and its really not something for us to be proud of.
According to the State of Food and Agriculture report in 2009, the US ranked third in
meat consumption per person among developed and developing countries. This statistic was
found in 2005, and at that time, the average person in America was consuming 279.1 lbs of meat
every year (FAO 136). Since then, meat consumption in developed countries has only risen, and
it continues to rise (Daniel et. al. 579). Men tend to consume more meat then women, and
according to a study published in the academic journal Psychology of Men & Masculinity by
Hank Rothgerber in 2013, it tends to be pretty easy for most men to ignore the downside of their
meat consumption.
The males who participated in Rothgerbers study tended to essentially embrace the act of
eating meat, while the females typically used apologetic and avoidance strategies as a way to
justify their meat consumption. Simply put, the men in the study felt more comfortable eating
meat and didnt feel bad about it, which led to higher rates of consumption. The men offered

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reasoning which reflected favorable attitudes toward eating meat, denied animal suffering,
believed that animals were lower in a hierarchy than humans, provided religious and health
justifications for consuming animals, and believed that it was human destiny to eat meat
[which can be facilitated by] masculine norms such as toughness, emotional restriction, and
dominance (Rothgerber 366).
Masculinity plays a large role as to why men tend to consume more meat than women. A
link between meat consumption and masculinity has been observed among many cultures, and
there are various reasons for this association. According to a study published in journal
Sociology Compass, one link between masculinity and meat is that hunting has always been a
male-dominated activity, and therefore the prized meats that are obtained through hunting are
perceived as a masculine product. In another aspect, historically, meat has been reserved for men
above all other classes on the basis that it was perceived as a more valuable, nutritionally-dense
food source than alternative options. This has allowed meat to be seen as powerful, patriarchal,
and worthy for a man (Sumpter 106). This drives the men who are striving to be perceived as
masculine to eat more meat, since it is seen as a manly act by his culture. Ultimately, this leads
men to be driven to eating more meat and less plant-based foods.
After being made aware of the relationship between masculinity and meat consumption, I
took a step back and realized that I actually did follow the typical male embracement strategies
for justifying my meat consumption. This led me to perform extensive research on this topic, I
was able to understand that my desire to consume meat was a biological predisposition, and in
consuming large amounts of meat and promoting it, I was simply trying to accentuate my
masculinity. Looking at the facts from a different perspective has allowed me to see the negative
aspects of our tremendous rates of meat consumption and the mechanisms behind it. The

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previous mindset that I had allowed me to embrace the consumption of meat, while assuming
that the meat being consumed was essential to my health and well-being, which is actually not
the case. It is easy to listen to others and advertisements that allow you to assume that you are
eating the right types of foods, and this is a good reason why it is important to dig deeper and
educate yourself on nutrition and how the food that you consume is being produced.
While many men still see nothing wrong with high rates of meat consumption, newer
information proves that there is reason to be thinking otherwise. The argument that meat
consumption is deleterious to the health of the environment, animals involved in the industry,
and the consumers health is becoming backed with more and more evidence as time goes on.
The negative side effects of the meat industry involving the environment are arguably the
largest problem being caused by our high rates of meat consumption. The expanding livestock
industry has detrimental effects that affect global warming the loss of biodiversity, land
degradation, water shortage, and pollution (Rothgerber 363). According to a discussion paper
published by the Food Climate Research Network, The food system today contributes to some
20-30% of anthropogenic GHG emissions, is the leading cause of deforestation, land use change
and biodiversity loss; accounts for 70% of all human water use and is a major source of water
pollution (Garnett 3). This goes to show that there is certainly a large negative impact that the
food industry has on our environment.
According to a recent study published by the Public Health Nutrition Research Group,
many people are unaware of the environmental impact of their meat consumption, and even
when they are made aware of the correlation, they are still reluctant to reduce meat consumption.
This was due to the participants belief that they already didnt eat large quantities of meat, the
belief that their own meat consumption is not significant, and also due to skepticism of the link

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between meat consumption and its negative environmental impact (Macdiarmid et al. 492).
While some people choose to believe that they are too insignificant to make any bit of a
difference, theories involving the idea of sustainable diets have been brought into the picture that
go to show that if everyone did their part in reducing personal meat consumption, then it could
help reduce the drastic effects that our high levels of meat consumption cause on our
environment.
Sustainable diets are a topic of concern involving the environmental impact of human
diets. A sustainable diet is hard to define, but can be simplified as a diet that is both healthy and
environmentally friendly (Pray 5). A total switch to a completely plant-based diet would result in
the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs), but it is understood that everyone is not
going to simply stop eating meat because it is better for the environment. But, reducing the
amount of meat in your diet can still create a positive impact. It will be absolutely necessary for
people who eat a lot of meat, aka most guys, to cut down on their meat consumption in order to
lower the overall greenhouse gas emissions that our population is producing. In a study
published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a computer program allowed
researchers to produce a diet consisting of less meat and dairy, while still fulfilling nutritional
requirements, and they were able observe how it would affect the GHGEs over time. The result
was a 36% decrease in GHGEs, which proves that it would be beneficial if everyone could just
adjust their diets to have less meat (Macdiarmid 635).
Another side effect of the large rates of consumption is the fact that more and more
animals will have to endure inhumane conditions as the meat industry expands. The treatment of
many animals that are used in the industry is often considered cruel and inhumane, and this is
proved through documentaries such as Cowspiracy and Earthlings, which highlight the faults in

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the industry. Many people have trouble watching these types of videos that show what really
goes on behind closed doors, and many people choose to turn a blind eye to what is going on,
simply because it is easier for them. If people cant even stomach the films, though, then isnt
that a clear cut sign that whats going on in the videos is not okay? And as human beings, isnt it
our job to help protect those that cant help themselves? These animals are absolutely scared and
helpless, which is why it is important to try and do what you can to help them, in whatever way
you can, big or small. One way to support the better treatment of animals is to only eat meat
from companies that have been proven to treat animals properly, and to boycott the companies
who have reputations for mistreatment. Another way is to simply reduce your meat consumption!
It really can make a difference, and you can spread that message on to others as well in order to
make a larger positive impact.
If you still need more convincing that reducing your personal meat consumption would
be beneficial, then look at the personal health aspect of it. According to a critical review
published in the journal Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, diet plays a large role in the
development of certain types of cancer, and reducing meat consumption can help lower your risk
of acquiring these cancers. The consumption of red meat and processed meats are positively
correlated with certain types of cancer, specifically cancer of colon, lung, esophagus, stomach,
and bladder. The correlation between meat consumption and disease does not stop here, however:
A larger intake of meat, and particularly of red and processed meat, has been convincingly
associated with a variety of human disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gout,
and arthritis (Lippi et. al. 9). Also, other bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E.
coli can be easily contracted through the consumption of infected meat, and are responsible for a
large number of foodborne human infection (World Society for the Protection of Animals 3).

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Therefore, it would definitely help your chances of lowering your risk of acquiring certain
diseases by watching how much meat you consume each week, and maybe trying to lower it to a
more reasonable amount, which is sustainable for both your body and the environment.
When focusing on your diet, the most important things to think about are your own
personal health (choosing foods to eat based on factual evidence of nutritional benefits, and not
common belief), and how you might be affecting the ecosystem and other living beings on Earth.
Being vegetarian, or even just being someone who eats a small percentage of meat, is not a
feminine act in my opinion. Some of the most manly men in history followed plant-based diets,
for example, the Gladiators of Ancient Rome. [Their] daily ration consisted of 78%
carbohydrates, mainly from wheat or barley. This diet has the advantages to provide slowly
absorbed carbohydrates, to provide high energy, and to be easily digestible (Longo 1). The
gladiators followed this type of diet since they were athletes and they needed to have the energy
and bodily figure to fight ferociously, and they drank supplements that came from plants to
promote bone growth.
Yet another positive result that stems from watching what you put on your plate is that
you simply become more aware of what you are really consuming, which essentially can lead to
a healthier diet. There are plenty of healthier options that can be substituted for meat that are
more environmentally friendly, and pack a better nutritional value. If you replace the meat in
your diet with healthier options such as fruits and veggies, nuts, legumes, and other plant-based
options, then you will be enjoying the lowered risk of acquiring the previously mentioned
diseases (Lees 1). As well, if you choose to lower the amount of meat in your diet, another
positive outcome is an expansion of your diet. Expanding your diet can open you up to a
countless number of delicious meals that are healthy, and it can help you to forget about the

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craving for meat that you might have if you choose to lower your meat consumption. Personally,
expanding my diet and becoming open to vegetarian options that I previously shrugged off has
opened me to a world of new dietary options.
As a guy, it can be easy to shrug off those options simply because you have the
preconceived notion that vegetarian foods are for females. But if you really just give it a chance,
theres a good chance that youll find that most vegetarian foods really arent bad at all, and
some actually taste damn good. Therefore, there is really no downside to trying to substitute
some healthier options into your diet, and you might even find yourself taking up other healthier
ways of living in the process once you start making these healthy changes in your life.
The positive impact of reducing the amount of meat in your diet is seemingly limitless.
While it might be a challenge for some people, especially us meat-crazed men, I believe that
everyone needs to step up and make changes in their own diets, because that is the only way to
make progress in the right direction regarding this issue. Being informed is the first step, but now
it is up to you to take action.

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Works Cited
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. Dir. Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn. Polyband,
2014. Film.
Daniel, Carrie R., Amanda J. Cross, Corinna Koebnick, and Rashmi Sinha. "Trends in
Meat Consumption in the USA." Public Health Nutrition 14.04 (2010): 575-83. Web.
Earthlings. Dir. Shaun Monson. Nation Earth, 2005. Film.
Garnett, Tara. What Is a Sustainable, Healthy Diet? Rep. Food Climate Research
Network, Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
Lees, Kristi. "Vegetarian Sources of Protein & Alternative Foods to Spice up Your
Meals." Bodybuilding.com. 29 July 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.
Lippi, Giuseppe, Camilla Mattiuzzi, and Gianfranco Cervellin. "Review: Meat
Consumption and Cancer Risk: A Critical Review of Published Meta-Analyses." Critical
Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 97 (2016): 1-14. ScienceDirect. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Longo, Umile Giuseppe, et al. "The Best Athletes In Ancient Rome Were
Vegetarian!." Journal of Sports Science & Medicine 7.4 (2008): 565. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Macdiarmid, Jennie I., Flora Douglas, and Jonina Campbell. "Eating Like There's No
Tomorrow: Public Awareness of the Environmental Impact of Food and Reluctance to Eat Less
Meat as Part of a Sustainable Diet." Appetite 96.(2016): 487-493. Science Direct. Web. 7 Apr.
2016.

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Macdiarmid, J. I., J. Kyle, G. W. Horgan, J. Loe, C. Fyfe, A. Johnstone, and G. Mcneill.
"Sustainable Diets for the Future: Can We Contribute to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by
Eating a Healthy Diet?" American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 96.3 (2012): 632-39. Web.
Sumpter, Kristen C. "Masculinity And Meat Consumption: An Analysis Through The
Theoretical Lens Of Hegemonic Masculinity And Alternative Masculinity Theories." Sociology
Compass 9.2 (2015): 104-114. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
The State of Food and Agriculture. Rep. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, 2009. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
Pray, Leslie A., and (U.S.) Institute of Medicine. Sustainable Diets: Food For Healthy
People And A Healthy Planet : Workshop Summary. Washington, D.C.: National Academies
Press, 2014. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
Rothgerber, Hank. "Real Men Don't Eat (Vegetable) Quiche: Masculinity and the
Justification of Meat Consumption." Psychology of Men & Masculinity 14.4 (2013): 363-375
13p. CINAHL Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.
Zoonotic Diseases, Human Health and Farm Animal Wellness. Rep. Compassion in
World Farming, The Tubney Charitable Trust and the World Society for the Protection of
Animals, May 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.