“Macho food”: Masculinities, food preferences, eating practices history and commensality among gay bears in São Paulo, Brazil

Unsain, Ramiro Fernandez; Ulian, Mariana Dimitrov; Sato, Priscila de Morais; Sabatini, Fernanda; Oliveira, Mayara Sanay da Silva; Scagliusi, Fernanda Baeza

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2019.104453

Cited by 7 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Description of the data obtained by the qualitative methods In a previous paper, we explored our participants' eating practices and food preferences, and their relation with their life history, masculinity and sexuality (Unsain et al, 2020). The next two paragraphs summarize some of these findings.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During adolescence, consumption of "fresh and healthy food" has been replaced by "industrialized food" (again, in their own terms) and fast food. Besides that, the "awakening" of a homosexual desire generated a wish to differentiate themselves from the "feminine way of eating," which meant consuming less vegetables and more meata pattern followed through adulthood (Unsain et al, 2020).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data used in this paper are from the study "The erotic belly: Intersections between Health, Gender, Food and Sexuality Among the Bear Community in the City of São Paulo, Brazil," in which the main objective was to analyze how eating and health relate to sexuality and gender among individuals who self-identified as gay bears. The study was described thoroughly by Unsain et al (2020), where more details can be found. Briefly, this was a qualitative study, with an ethnographic design, complemented by quantitative methods.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative approaches for the study of gay bears' food intake in São Paulo, Brazil

Unsain

Sato

Ulian

et al. 2021

QRJ

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PurposeThe authors aimed to triangulate food intake data obtained by two qualitative methods (in-depth interviews and participant observations) and one quantitative method (food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ)). The purpose of this paper was to analyze the kind of data each method produced and how these different pieces of information are methodologically related to the characteristics and limitations of different methods used and theoretically connected to participants' identities and masculinities.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis was based on data from an ethnographic study; whose participants were 35 men who self-identified as gay bears. The participants' food intake was investigated through participant observations, in-depth interviews and an FFQ.FindingsThe qualitative methods indicated an overconsumption of meat and beer and a rejection of fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables, as diacritical signs of the bears' identity. The FFQ showed a major consumption of minimally processed food, with fruits and vegetables being eaten more than meat. The authors proposed that the participants have compartmentalized their many habitual intakes and assessed one of them, separately, according to the method used (what was being asked and the context of that moment). Additionally, the authors connected these two patterns of habitual intake to the participants' identities and masculinities, questioning the existence of a constant hegemonic masculinity among this group.Originality/valueThe triangulation of methods employed in the present study is seldom addressed in the literature. This approximation provided a rich discussion regarding the connections between eating, sexuality, gender and identity, through a novel methodological and theoretical lens.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative approaches for the study of gay bears' food intake in São Paulo, Brazil

Unsain

Sato

Ulian

et al. 2021

QRJ

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…Although men from this subculture may be more likely to use illicit substances before or during sexual contacts [27], they do not smoke tobacco more often than other sexual minority men [28] or even smoke less often compared to men from other subcultural groupings within the gay community [25]. Although there is some evidence that social gatherings for Bears are usually associated with increased consumption of alcohol [29], quantitative studies did not demonstrate significantly increased frequencies of excess or binge drinking among Bears [27,28].…”

Section: Cvd Risk Among Bearsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Similarly, the dietary habits of Bears have been explored by only one study, which was conducted among Brazilian Bears [29]. The study was focused on eating practices among Bears and revealed that certain food preferences (i.e., eating meat and drinking beer) were indicative of dominant subcultural definitions of masculinity and represented a strategy to build the ideal masculine body and avoid discrimination associated with minority sexuality [29]. This study also suggested that eating habits among Bears may increase CVD risk in this population and should be explored in further studies.…”

Section: Cvd Risk Among Bearsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Bears and Other Gay Men: A Descriptive Study from Poland

Mijas

Koziara

Galbarczyk

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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A risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased by multiple factors including psychosocial stress and health behaviors. Sexual minority men who identify as Bears form a subculture distinguished by characteristics associated with increased CVD risk such as elevated stress and high body weight. However, none of the previous studies comprehensively investigated CVD risk in this population. Our study compared Bears (N = 31) with other gay men (N = 105) across a wide range of CVD risk factors. Logistic regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models were performed to compare both groups concerning behavioral (e.g., physical activity), medical (e.g., self-reported hypertension), and psychosocial (e.g., depressiveness) CVD risk factors. Bears were characterized by older age and higher body mass index (BMI) than the control group. We also observed higher resilience, self-esteem, as well as greater prevalence of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia in Bears. None of these differences remained statistically significant after adjusting for age and, in the case of self-reported diagnosis of diabetes, both age and BMI. Our study demonstrates that Bears are characterized by increased CVD risk associated predominantly with older age and higher BMI. Health promotion interventions addressed to this community should be tailored to Bears’ subcultural norms and should encourage a healthier lifestyle instead of weight loss.

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Sexual Decision Making Among Men Who Identify as Bears: a Grounded Theory Study

Quidley-Rodriguez

Santis

2021

Sex Res Soc Policy

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“Macho food”: Masculinities, food preferences, eating practices history and commensality among gay bears in São Paulo, Brazil

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative approaches for the study of gay bears' food intake in São Paulo, Brazil

Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative approaches for the study of gay bears' food intake in São Paulo, Brazil

Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Bears and Other Gay Men: A Descriptive Study from Poland

Sexual Decision Making Among Men Who Identify as Bears: a Grounded Theory Study

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