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«Macho Lifestyle»Big cars and a lot of meat – are men worse for the climate?
On average, a man’s lifestyle is more harmful to the climate than a woman’s, according to one theory. Now the “macho lifestyle” is in the pillory. According to an expert, such accusations are of little use.
- von
- Michelle Ineichen
- Thomas Obrecht
Men eat about half a kilo more meat than women per week.
Tamedia/Urs Jaudas
The fact that men drive more cars on average is said to be bad for the climate.
Tamedia/Urs Jaudas
Because of their consumer behavior, men are more harmful to the environment than women – at least that’s what the Germans claim TAZ.
A national nutrition survey by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) from 2014/15 confirms that Swiss people consume more meat than Swiss women. For example, men would eat an average of 85 grams of unprocessed meat and 55 grams of processed meat products per day. For women it is 49 grams and 32 grams per person respectively. Young men in particular would attract attention due to their high meat consumption.
Societal Expectations
Benita Combet, sociologist at the University of Zurich, says: “High meat consumption is traditionally seen as male. Men are socially expected to be strong, which is associated with hunting and meat consumption.” Therefore, males are socialized to eat a lot of meat. The same can be seen when driving a car: “Big, expensive cars with high fuel consumption are a status symbol,” Combet continues.
Men drive more cars
Stephan Jäggi, Managing Director of the Swiss Association for Free Car Dealers (VFAS), confirms these gender differences when choosing a car. “Brands with smaller car models such as Mini are much more popular with women, while high-performance sports cars and electric vehicles are mainly bought by men.”
According to a study by the Verkehrs-Club Schweiz (VCS) from 2015, men also drive more. At 42 kilometers a day, men covered an average of 32 percent more distance than women.
“Women are more considerate of others”
According to Bernadette Sütterlin, consumer and sustainability researcher at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), women are generally more environmentally conscious: “Women are more considerate of others and the environment and tend to be more caring. This is then also expressed in a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.” Many would save water, drive more public transport and eat less meat out of their own motivation. “In this respect, men look a little more closely at their own interests.”
Business psychologist Christian Fichter also confirms: “Of course there are gender differences in consumer behavior. However, blaming men alone for climate change is not justified.” In areas such as fast fashion or the cosmetics industry, women are less sustainable than men. “Such accusations are of no use to the environment, instead we have to find solutions together.”