How to press to remove moisture from tofu
You can easily press tofu without having to press it.
Problem solved, reviewed
Do you like tofu? Your response to that question may say more about you than you realize.
Or at least that’s what some women on social media claim is that they’re using men’s reactions to soy-based products as a kind of litmus test for how they view women.
“Men’s views on tofu are a direct reflection of men’s views on women,” the woman said in a video posted to TikTok, which has nearly 3 million views, adding that men’s “strong aversion” to it is tied to fear of fragile masculinity and their place in society.
Whether it’s in the comments or in video responses, others are chiming in with their agreement. User @angelinanicollle has racked up 1 million views with a video pointing out that the claim that eating soy products increases estrogen levels in men is false, adding, “It’s so forced to hate tofu and soy because people are so uneducated.”
Emily Comtois, associate professor of media studies at the University of Tulsa and author of Diners, Dudes, and Diets: How Gender and Power Collide in Food Media and Culture, says TikTokers may be onto something.
She explained that although food itself has no gender, it is one of the things that our society creates gendered meanings for. “This idea that tofu reflects femininity and that resistance to tofu says something about the masculinity of the men who respond to it is absolutely true,” Comtois said of the TikTokers’ view.
Amy Chang, a dating coach and author of “Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Mind,” said the viral tofu test, while not without its flaws, does highlight how daters are subtly trying to probe their partners’ political views and ideas about gender and cultural openness.
“Things like tofu and veganism have become iconic. It’s no longer just a dietary preference,” she says. “This is being read as a stance on the environment, ethics, masculinity, and whether or not you have harmful values.”
But there can also be downsides for daters, she says.
“Alpha Male” and “Soy Boy”
While modern ideas about masculinity increasingly link meat to masculinity, Comtois says there is centuries of historical precedent for associating gender assumptions with food. Plants are associated with nurturing and femininity, while meat evokes the idea of an “alpha male” hunter.
She said the interconnectedness of meat eating, power, and oppression was a major theme in Carol J. Adams’ book, The Sexual Politics of Flesh, and that similar arguments came to light decades ago.
Some say testing tofu for the virus not only highlights the intersection of food and gender, but also questions someone’s views on race and tolerance of other cultures, since tofu is a staple food for many Asians and Asian Americans.
“This is more than a gender issue,” Comtois said. “It’s definitely about power on the play.”
Comtois points out that tofu is also high in protein. It is plant-based rather than animal-based. And studies have shown that diets high in red and processed meat are associated with higher erectile dysfunction and even dissolve more of the appearance of the meat equivalent of virility.
But even though practices like veganism became more mainstream years ago and more plant-based protein brands became available, marketing still employed the word meat. Comtois points to examples such as Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger.
Even animal by-products like milk can fall into these gender categories. As more alternative milks emerged, so did terms like “soy boy.” This is an insult that conveys weakness or lack of masculinity towards men who prefer a plant-based or vegetarian diet.
RFK Junior’s protein-rich meal pyramid
After Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new dietary guidelines for Americans earlier this year, the debate over meat, health, and physical fitness reignited. Meat now sits at the top of the newly inverted food pyramid.
Health experts have expressed concern that the protein promotion is oversimplified by lumping together processed and unprocessed products. Excess consumption of red meat is associated with negative health effects, which can lead to confusion in health messages.
The Health Secretary is also promoting a meat-based carnivore diet.
In a video that has been viewed more than 500,000 times, user @esmehewitt claimed: Anyone He believes that tofu, vegetarianism, or veganism “reflects who they are politically and morally,” and points out the environmental impact of the meat industry.
Comtois agreed that government and politics play a role in how we think about these things.
“Under certain administrations, there has been more discussion about climate change and the role of the kinds of foods we eat, especially meat, which consumes a lot of resources,” she added. “We’re in a moment now where there’s a very strong alignment between the Republican administration and their particular ideas about meat, protein, masculinity, marriage, family and children. It’s all coming together.”
What was wrong with the tofu test?
But testing tofu is not without its problems, Chan said.
“If you’re criticizing people who are anti-tofu, you too may be guilty of making sweeping generalizations,” she says. “Some people eat meat but still care deeply about the environment or are very emotionally attuned. Others are plant-based but lack interpersonal skills.”
Chan pointed to a psychological concept called “fundamental attribution error,” which he described as “the tendency to take a certain action and assume that it reflects the person’s entire personality.”
“That’s exactly where things like the tofu test go wrong: You take a single interaction and turn it into a conclusion,” she said, adding that this can cause people to be more judgmental and wary.
Just because some people don’t like tofu doesn’t mean they’re toxically masculine.
Comtois added that there’s a difference between someone who tries well-cooked tofu and really hates it, and someone who has never tried it and automatically has a gut reaction of “disgusting.”
To get a better idea, Comtois suggests adjusting your questions to: “What do you think about tofu?”
“This opens the door to understanding someone’s belief system, which revolves around ideas about power and subordination,” Comtois says.
And for some, it’s not that deep, Chan says.
“The downside is that you can start to over-interpret small signals and start putting people into categories quickly,” she said. “This is wreaking havoc on dating and connections, and the gap between men and women is growing wider and more hostile to each other.”
Whether you like tofu or hate it, this question makes for a good conversation.
“I hope we can have a great meal together,” Comtois added, noting that “the human bond that comes from breaking bread together,” or in this case tofu, can be magic.
Don’t have time to find a tofu shop for your next date night?
