‘EAT SAYUR, BECOME SAYUR’: NEGOTIATING MASCULINE IDENTITY IN SINGAPORE THROUGH PLANT-BASED DIETS
SURAJ SOMAIAH
SURAJ SOMAIAH
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Abstract
Food is heavily symbolic with meaning, and can be used as a lens through which to examine gender identity. In particular, meat has been observed to have a longstanding association with masculinity in Western contexts because it is believed to embody masculine qualities. Accordingly, where men choose to reject the consumption of meat in these contexts, they risk having their masculine identity questioned. To prevent themselves from being othered, they may seek to negotiate their masculinity in a wide variety of ways. Despite the centrality of meat within the Singapore foodscape, little has been said about its possible connection to masculinity in the local context. This thesis attempts to fill that gap. Drawing primarily upon the concepts of hegemonic masculinity, heganism and hybrid masculinity for analysis, this thesis: (1) uncovers the association between meat and masculinity in Singapore and (2) explores the different ways in which Singaporean men who practice plant-based diets negotiate their masculinity. Findings revealed that while meat is tied to normative ideals of Singaporean masculinity, Singaporean men who practice plant-based diets have largely been able to strategically surmount disparaging perceptions of their conventionally ‘unmasculine’ food practices. They have done so mainly by demonstrating a capability to adhere to normative masculine standards despite their rejection of meat, and by seeking to contest dominant notions of masculinity by
emphasizing alternative ideals.
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2020-04-15
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