Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - "Eat like a man"
T2 - a social constructionist analysis of the role of food in men’s lives
AU - Newcombe, Mark
AU - McCarthy, Mary
AU - Cronin, James
AU - McCarthy, Sinead
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - This paper adopts a social constructionist approach to investigate the role of food in the production of identities and social experiences for men. With recognition that relational and experiential processes are central to men’s lives, the purpose of the paper is to inductively explore the personal and interpersonal complexities of this group’s food related behaviours. Empirical data were collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with 33 men, comprising of 4 age groups, (18–35, 36–54, 55–64, and 65+ years). Regardless of age, an analysis and interpretation yielded three emergent themes, food as a component of: (1) role-play; (2) contextual interactions, (3) and the management of a functional vs. hedonic dialectic. Across these themes various tensions and contradictions emerged suggesting a complex reflexivity to male food life experiences. Relational issues emerged such as the observation that some men concede control to their partners throughout their food experiences. Overall, our men’s consumption practices construct a specific socio-cultural articulation of masculine roles whereby their internal paradoxes are leveraged as a means to produce desirable experiences and self-identifications.
AB - This paper adopts a social constructionist approach to investigate the role of food in the production of identities and social experiences for men. With recognition that relational and experiential processes are central to men’s lives, the purpose of the paper is to inductively explore the personal and interpersonal complexities of this group’s food related behaviours. Empirical data were collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with 33 men, comprising of 4 age groups, (18–35, 36–54, 55–64, and 65+ years). Regardless of age, an analysis and interpretation yielded three emergent themes, food as a component of: (1) role-play; (2) contextual interactions, (3) and the management of a functional vs. hedonic dialectic. Across these themes various tensions and contradictions emerged suggesting a complex reflexivity to male food life experiences. Relational issues emerged such as the observation that some men concede control to their partners throughout their food experiences. Overall, our men’s consumption practices construct a specific socio-cultural articulation of masculine roles whereby their internal paradoxes are leveraged as a means to produce desirable experiences and self-identifications.
KW - Food lives
KW - Social constructionism
KW - Masculinity
KW - Identity
KW - Role-play
KW - Men
U2 - 10.1016/j.appet.2012.05.031
DO - 10.1016/j.appet.2012.05.031
M3 - Journal article
VL - 59
SP - 391
EP - 398
JO - Appetite
JF - Appetite
SN - 0195-6663
IS - 2
ER -