Pejorative term for men perceived as non-masculine
Soy boy is a
pejorative term sometimes used in online communities to describe men perceived to be lacking
masculine characteristics. The term bears many similarities and has been compared to the slang terms cuck (derived from
cuckold), nu-male and low-T ("low testosterone") – terms sometimes used as insults for male
femininity by online communities.[1][2][3]
Soy products contain high amounts of
phytoestrogens.[6][7] As they are structurally similar to
estradiol (the major
female sex hormone) and have activity at the estrogen receptor,[8] concerns have been raised that it may act as an
endocrine disruptor that adversely affects health.[7] The Harvard School of Health, however, notes that "there are many factors that make it difficult to construct blanket statements about the health effects of soy."[9]
Soy boys are often depicted as feminized and unathletic, usually with
glasses and a poorly groomed
beard, and having a characteristic open-mouthed smile called a "soy face" or "soylent grin",[13][14] a pun on the 1973 dystopian film Soylent Green.
Diet and men's health
While there is some evidence that phytoestrogens may affect male fertility, "further investigation is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn".[15] Several review studies have not found any effect of phytoestrogens on sperm quality[5] or reproductive hormone levels.[4][15]
Soy is rich in nutrients and likely to provide health benefits, especially when it replaces red or processed meat.[9] Avoidance of red and processed meat was found to lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction.[16][17] Higher soy intake is also associated with lower risk for prostate cancer.[18][19]
See also
Look up soy boy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^George G. J. M. Kuiper; Josephine G. Lemmen; Bo Carlsson; J. Christopher Corton; Stephen H. Safe; Paul T. van der Saag; Bart van der Burg; Jan-Åke Gustafsson (1 October 1998). "Interaction of Estrogenic Chemicals and Phytoestrogens with Estrogen Receptor β". Endocrinology. 139 (10): 4252–4263.
doi:
10.1210/endo.139.10.6216.
PMID9751507.