The “Meat Equals Manliness” Fallacy: Redefining Strength in an Age of Toxic Masculinity

For as long as I can remember, the concept of “manliness” has been tethered to notions of dominance, inexplicably linked to meat consumption. The image of a rugged man grilling steaks or devouring a burger has been so deeply ingrained in our cultural psyche that it’s rarely questioned. But it’s time we did.

This fallacy has found new life in today’s “manosphere,” a digital ecosystem dominated by figures like Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate, and Dana White. These “bros” have built empires on the premise that masculinity is under siege, positioning themselves as guardians of an ultra-alpha ideology that celebrates supremacy and unapologetic self-interest. Whether it’s Rogan extolling the virtues of hunting and consuming elk meat, Tate flaunting his carnivorous and acquisitive lifestyle, or White presiding over the UFC’s spectacle of controlled violence, the message remains consistent: real men eat meat, take what they want, and never apologize for it. (By the way, I love sports but draw the line at watching two people beating each other up for entertainment.)

The current popularity of these bully ideologues—saying whatever they want, doing whatever they want, and eating whomever they choose without a care for the suffering their choices might cause—represents a dangerous regression in our understanding of strength and masculinity. Setting aside my discomfort with the very notion of “manliness” for a second, I’m a 6’3″, 220-pound, sports-loving vegan of fifteen years. During this time, I’ve never had my masculinity questioned—at least not to my face.

The meat industry has capitalized on this insecurity around masculinity for decades, spending billions on marketing campaigns that equate animal consumption with power and virility. Meanwhile, some of history’s greatest warriors and athletes—from Roman gladiators (known as “barley men” for their plant-based diets) to modern champions like Novak Djokovic, Lewis Hamilton, and Kyrie Irving—have thrived on plant-based nutrition. Their achievements demolish the myth that plant proteins are somehow inferior or insufficient for peak physical performance.

While not every man strives to be a champion athlete, most want to live a long and healthy life. The current reversion to equating meat with manliness pressures men to adopt unhealthy diets. The evidence against meat-heavy diets is overwhelming. Studies have repeatedly shown that diets high in red and processed meats are linked to increased risk of heart disease, cancer, strokes, and other illnesses, such as erectile dysfunction—an inconvenient truth for meat-eating men: nothing says “unmanned” quite like erectile dysfunction. If these self-proclaimed alpha males are so concerned with virility, perhaps they should consider that their steak dinner might be working against them below the belt.

What’s more, there’s nothing quite as infantilizing as drinking milk, which nature intended only for babies.

Aside from the health benefits of refusing to eat the flesh of sentient beings, anyone with a kind heart should be able to empathize with animals imprisoned on filthy, severely crowded farms, where they’re routinely castrated or otherwise mutilated without painkillers and slaughtered in ways that would horrify any decent person. Everyone—regardless of gender—ought to take a stand against such cruelty by rejecting all animal-derived foods.

True strength lies in forging one’s own path, making choices rooted in compassion, sustainability, and health—values exemplified by vegan living. Isn’t it far more manly to stand up for those who are vulnerable rather than following the herd and bullying the weak? What’s manly about knowing what’s right but not doing it because you’re too cowardly?

By clinging to the “meat equals manliness” narrative, we not only perpetuate the suffering of billions of animals but also undermine efforts to secure a livable future for our children—ironically, another stereotype tied to masculinity. Animal agriculture is a leading cause of deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The cognitive dissonance is staggering: we celebrate men as providers and protectors while encouraging dietary choices that actively destroy the very planet we claim to protect for future generations.

When I adopted a meat- and dairy-free diet fifteen years ago, it was a point of pride and principle to tell my friends what I was doing and why. Any jeering from the crowd simply strengthened my resolve and reinforced my beliefs. If your friends don’t support your lifestyle, you need to change your friends, not your way of living.

It’s time to redefine what it means to be “manly” by embracing responsibility and empathy, rather than dangerous and outdated dietary ideals. Real strength isn’t found in conformity to harmful stereotypes or the domination of others—it’s demonstrated through the courage to live according to one’s principles, especially when those principles challenge the status quo. In a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges and ethical reckonings, perhaps the manliest thing we can do is to take responsibility for the impact of our choices and lead by example toward a more compassionate and sustainable future.