Hank Rotgerber, University of Bellarmine, assures that men eat meat, as it gives them a sense of their own manhood, MSNBC reports. At least, this works in the United States. Here, meat is the symbol of patriarchy, Bellarmine adds.

This is especially true in cases when men eat meat in public. Thus, he confirms his masculinity in public.

Moreover, it is known that frequent consumption of meat can bring cancer, heart diseases and other health problems. Bellarmine surveyed 125 students for his first study and 89 for the second. It turned out most of the men ate meat with pleasure, denying the sufferings of animals.

They were convinced that in the hierarchy of nature animals are inferior to humans, presented religious and medical evidence that meat is good for consumption.

According to statistics, in the U.S., only a little over 3% of the population practice vegetarianism or veganism.