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A dear friend of mine sent me an article entitled, Food Trends Men Hate by Sarah B. Weird on Yahoo Shine. My buddy knew I'd have some thoughts on the subject and he himself took issue with the piece as within his email he stated adamantly, "I really hate articles like this... as if the only way to be a man is to swing an axe around and eat tree bark every day."
The article puts forth the idea that men are more "old fashioned" in their eating choices than women are. "Old fashioned", was not defined in the article, however, quotes from various men within and outside of the food industry where plugged in. The below quotes are directly from the article.
Tableside guacamole
“They charge you 20 bucks for the show. Whatever happened to regular guac, which was the same thing, only made in the kitchen and cost less than 10 dollars?”
--Ken, systems analyst
Tofu
“Tofu just doesn’t make sense. The texture is vile, and there is no flavor. Weirdest of all is that it’s odorless — that’s a big thing with food, it needs to have a smell."
--Titus, student
Vegan
No meat, no fish, no milk, no cheese, no eggs. “Where’s dinner?”
--Ed, film producer
Fancy rolls such as brioche or sourdough with hamburgers
“Too much bread and you lose the meat.”
--Paul, teacher
Sliders
Men may prefer classic, thin burger buns, but don’t make that bun too small.
“If a chef can’t come up with a better idea than sliders, it's time to get a new job. Leave the nickname for those greasy little White Castle burgers that can be tasty late at night when you are in the mood.”
--Jack, restaurant owner
Raw food
“It's food for squirrels, not for humans.”
--Pablo, investment banker
Sushi with brown rice
Sushi is already a little dainty and/or gross for some men, and now some restaurants are taking it up a notch.
“People have dietary restrictions and personal preferences, but brown rice can be such a status statement: ‘I’m not going to eat those two little teaspoons of white rice with my sushi because brown rice is so much healthier (and so am I).’ Really? Just eat the two teaspoons of white rice and live a little.”
--Gary, writer
Endless menu descriptions
“I really don’t need to know that the pork I’m considering ordering once ate organic grass on a free range portion of Ma and Pa Kettle’s farm. The quality of the dish should speak for itself.”
--Connor, hospitality industry ex-pat
Cupcakes
As cute and yummy as they are to the ladies, cupcakes are not so popular among the XY chromosome set.
“The ratio of frosting to cake is all off. And you look like a little girl eating them.”
--Richard, lawyer
Macarons (French macaroons)
“If eating cupcakes didn’t make me look ridiculous enough, how am I supposed to walk around eating a macaron? I know — let’s go shopping and while you are in the changing room, I’ll hold your purse. At least that’s more masculine then a macaron.”
--Joe, salon owner
This article is a very good example of sexism and how it really is EVERYWHERE. My friend had every right to be upset. This article doesn't anger me so much as it makes me sad. Sadness is often my reaction to most oppressive things.
Patriarchy affects women of course, but it also affects men. The contents of this article is a good example. Let men eat macarons for goodness sake! Ha! And depriving men of CUPCAKES? Wow, now that is too far. But in all seriousness, it is unfair that within patriarchy men are not allowed to do certain things, feel certain things, think certain things, without consequences or flack from men. In fact I'll tack on women to that statement. Patriarchy runs so deep that there are some women who will look at a man eating a macaron and think that he is a wimp. Women (not just heterosexual women) often want men to be sensitive but sometimes when a guy shows a side that is indeed sensitive or a side that is traditionally feminine, some women can't handle it because they are used to the traditional machismo - even if that machismo is something that they despise.
This article is pretty racist as well. Although it may not be direct or overt, it is negligent of important factors which result in a biased view. The article tells us that sushi is "dainty". What if you are of Asian decent and sushi is something you have been brought up with? Are Asian men dainty? What if you are not Asian in background but you just really dig sushi? And since when did brown rice get a bad rap? Since when did being health conscience get a bad rap? I suppose heart attacks are manly? Can't people just eat what tastes good to their palate without scrutiny? What a confining world for men who feel they have to put so much effort and energy into abiding the pressures of patriarchy. It makes me upset for the men I love and the men I've never met.
Perspectives like the ones expressed in this article are foisting stereotypical "manhood" onto others. The article is making the over general and far too simplistic assumption that all men prefer "old fashioned" dining and to prefer otherwise suggests female qualities; as if being female is deplorable. I am not implying that men should not be happy with their gender, however, I do oppose a cookie cutter mold that is impossible for men to follow at all times. Men will fail at this and then men will feel shamed when they cannot live up. But men will promote this idealism as they will unfairly expect it of themselves and then will unfairly expect it of others. You see, this issue is much larger than food.
The question of what makes a man is an on going topic of discussion within feminist circles. There is this idea within patriarchy that the opposite of man is woman. If you aren't behaving like a macho man (did I just place the Village People in your head?) then you must be female...or gay. Notice how so many men attempt to insult or cut down other men by hurling phrases such as, "You're so gay!" or "Don't be a pussy!"? The article doesn't use this language specifically but the quotes do tel us that eating a cupcake will supposedly make men look like girls, and that shopping with a woman is more manly than eating a macaron.
If you look down and you see a penis before you, then you are male. Isn't that pretty easy? So, it doesn't matter what you eat. You are all man. If you prefer seemingly uncomplicated dishes, great. If you enjoy something that falls outside of that box, that is great too. To each their own.
One of the reasons I am a feminist is because I love men. I am affected by patriarchy but men are too. To suggest that men do not like certain foods is a generalized statement which is not inclusive of everyone. To generalize is to outcast others and build up those who think they are superior. I'm exhausted by the men and women who insist that machismo is the epitome of maleness.
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