Veg*n Masculinities as Symbolic Threats? A Systematic Review on Masculinity, Identity and Right-Wing Ideology.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Veg*n Masculinities as Symbolic Threats?

T2 - A Systematic Review on Masculinity, Identity and Right-Wing Ideology.

AU - Norrie, Robb

AU - Bliuc, Ana-Maria

AU - Betts, John M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

PY - 2026/5/18

Y1 - 2026/5/18

N2 - The increasing popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets (veg*n) is well documented and often attributed to concerns about sustainability, ethical consumption, and health benefits. However, a gendered imbalance exists in the adoption of veg*n diets and their associated health and environmental outcomes. In many cultures, meat consumption is regarded as a symbol of male dominance that contributes to gender performativity and hegemonic views of masculinity. Additionally, socio-political factors, including Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and conservativism, have been linked to increased meat consumption and a reluctance to adopt veg*n diets. To determine what the most current evidence shows on the relationships between political right-wing ideologies, constructions of male gender (masculine identity), and attitudes towards veg*n men, we conducted a systematic review. Our review finds that veg*n males are often seen as constituting a threat to the political right by undermining hegemonic masculinity, and by extension, the patriarchal society. We conclude by integrating our review findings into a cohesive framework to help better understand how veg*n males negotiate their masculine identity and how this negotiation is influenced by both group conflict and identity. The uptake of veg*n diets causes a complex realignment of individual identity, worldview, and group identification, leading to a schism in masculine identity that is resolved through its renegotiation.

AB - The increasing popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets (veg*n) is well documented and often attributed to concerns about sustainability, ethical consumption, and health benefits. However, a gendered imbalance exists in the adoption of veg*n diets and their associated health and environmental outcomes. In many cultures, meat consumption is regarded as a symbol of male dominance that contributes to gender performativity and hegemonic views of masculinity. Additionally, socio-political factors, including Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and conservativism, have been linked to increased meat consumption and a reluctance to adopt veg*n diets. To determine what the most current evidence shows on the relationships between political right-wing ideologies, constructions of male gender (masculine identity), and attitudes towards veg*n men, we conducted a systematic review. Our review finds that veg*n males are often seen as constituting a threat to the political right by undermining hegemonic masculinity, and by extension, the patriarchal society. We conclude by integrating our review findings into a cohesive framework to help better understand how veg*n males negotiate their masculine identity and how this negotiation is influenced by both group conflict and identity. The uptake of veg*n diets causes a complex realignment of individual identity, worldview, and group identification, leading to a schism in masculine identity that is resolved through its renegotiation.

U2 - 10.1016/j.appet.2026.108593

DO - 10.1016/j.appet.2026.108593

M3 - Review article

C2 - 42155628

SN - 0195-6663

VL - 225

JO - Appetite

JF - Appetite

M1 - 108593

ER -