"Sex on a Plate"

[rhythmaning]

Sex and food: they go together, really. And in the media, too.

A while ago, white_hart wrote on her journal about an article in the Observer food monthly, which was trying to say that men and women ate different food in a different fashion. (I think it was white_hart; it may have been someone on gastrogasm; and if it was you, I apologise!) This created a lot of debate – almost all of it saying that the article was a load of tosh.

Not to be outdone, and clearly desperate to stay ahead of the pack – or maybe they just thought that no-one who reads the Observer would also read the Independent, last Sunday’s special food issue of the Independent on Sunday had an article about… the way gender defines our dining habits: “Sex on a plate”.

It says more or less the things as the Observer article – men choose meat, women choose salad; women count calories, men like quantity; and women have “so many hang ups about food… For too many women, food is either a chore to be undertaken, or a challenge to be beaten.” (It was written by a woman – Miranda Sawyer. Credit where credit’s due…)

It concludes that food is wonderful, and to be enjoyed and relished; but it seems to reinforce the view that there are real gender differences.

It is strange. Maybe all these journalists live on a different planet?

x-posted to gastrogasm