Soy: Where Food and Toxic Masculinity Collide.

A few months ago, Gillette released a video launching a socially conscious marketing campaign that invoked the essence of the #MeToo moment. While the message has been praised by many, the negative backlash it has received has been obnoxiously loud. Some view the commercial as an aggressive affront to masculinity, and that Gillette is attempting to feminize men. The outcry sheds light on the insecurity that some men have with their own masculinity, the same insecurity that leads many to avoid foods that contain soy, due to its “feminizing” properties.

Does soy have feminizing properties?

Well, soy contains compounds called isoflavones which can exert estrogen-like effects on certain tissues. Estrogen is a female hormone….you see where this is going? The fear develops from this issue, that increased intake of isoflavones can cause feminine traits in men, such as gynecomastia (aka man boobs).

Before I get in to the research, I think it is important to point out that people in Japan and Korea have an average isoflavone intake around 40g/day, and there are no pervasive “moob” problems in these countries. Many other populations around the world consume high amounts of soy without evidence of widespread feminizing effects.

A review of research into isoflavone intake found essentially no evidence of any “feminization” in humans, including: gynecomastia, increased estrogen level, decreased testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction, or low sperm count. The only circulating hormone changes were found in in mice and rat studies. There are a couple individual cases where hormone levels have been slightly altered in men, but these cases involved massive soy consumption (>3L soy milk/day) much higher than any person would eat normally.

Why “soy boy” then?

There is no scientific basis for the “soy boy” phenomenon physiologically. Soy in all its forms, is a very healthy food: it contains all the essential amino acids and a laundry list of vitamins and minerals. The misinformation surrounding soy and its “feminizing” properties comes from a place of insecurity, bigotry and fear.

As society pushes back against harassment, and the lines that govern masculinity and femininity blur, we see many of the “boys will be boys” actions outlined in the Gillette ad as being unacceptable. A lot of these behaviours were once commonplace, and the restriction of these actions is perceived by some to be anti-male. Putting women in uncomfortable situations for personal gain is disrespectful, hurtful and promotes the idea that harassment is a defining characteristic of masculinity. Treating women with respect, having platonic female friendships and expressing emotions does not make you “effeminate”, it just makes you a decent fucking person. Men can still be men, without conforming to strict gender norms.

So next time you’re making dinner consider soy based protein options: Fry up some tofu, toss some TVP into your pasta sauce or add some edamame to your salad. Savour soy for its health benefits and versatility, because soy is simply a food – it’s not trying to steal your manhood.

-J.