‘Defeminizing’ dieting : a ‘new’ way of ‘doing masculinities’?

• Main Author: Ang, Joycelyn Xiao Ning
• Other Authors: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55732
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Dieting has been traditionally regarded as a feminine practice. This research project thus aims to ‘defeminize’ dieting and explore dieting, possibly, as a ‘new’ way of ‘doing masculinities’. Literature review will expound on dieting as a project towards achieving a good inner and outer body. The chosen methodology will be in-depth qualitative interviews, targeted at Singaporean men who have dieted or are currently dieting. Throughout the paper, it will be evident how dieting can be renegotiated as a ‘masculine’ practice and thus, a ‘new’ way of ‘doing masculinities’ when interviewees appropriate masculine ideals, appeal to gendered differences of dieting and reaffirm ‘hegemonic masculinity’. The paper will then conclude with implications on health policies to improve men’s health and recommendations to support healthy eating among Singaporean men.